Shaun Johnson’s wizard-like Four Nations performance should go down as one of the most dominant displays by a half in international rugby league history – that is why he won the Golden Boot.
The award is awarded to the best player over a calendar year that includes club and Test match performances, but Rugby League World editor Gareth Walker has said weighting is given to Test performances.
Johnson collected man-of-the-match awards in both triumphs against Australia – first, the 30-12 boil-over, then the more impressive 22-18 win in the final. He also played leading hands in the close victories against England and Samoa.
His goal kicking was accurate, he outpointed his rival halfbacks during general play, his gravity-defying bombs caused havoc for all three teams, and he reached interstellar status with his performance at Wellington. He was that influential. Cooper Cronk, Gareth Widdop and Ben Roberts had solid outings, but none ripped open the game like the Kiwi halfback. Johnson was the most dominant player in Test football in 2014.
He had a solid club season with the Warriors, who finished with the NRL’s third-best attack of 104 tries in 24 games, only bettered by the Cowboys (105) and the Roosters (106). His job is to spark the attack; he did his job well in a team that missed the playoffs.
It was much like Benji Marshall’s watershed year in 2010, where he had a great Four Nations and a solid NRL season. Billy Slater and Greg Inglis had very strong Test performances in 2008 and 2009 respectively, plus were at the core of the Melbourne’s Storm’s resurgence in those years. And it continues.
Sam Burgess had an incredible club season. That is why polled what he did. But with no Tests he could only get so far.
There is a common theme with the previous Golden Boot winners – all had above average-performances in Test and club colours. The likes of Wally Lewis, Peter Sterling, Hugh McGahan, Garry Schofield, Andrew Johns, Stacey Johns, Brad Fittler, Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis. Thirteen judges from Australia, England, France and New Zealand vote on who they think is the best in the world – and that is why it stands out as such a prestigious award. It’s bigger than the Dally M.
That is also why there has been a backlash – people are still trying to accept that New Zealand emerged as Test champions of 2014. There was similar outcry in 2012 when Kevin Sinfield won, having had big performances in the finals of Super League and in their Tests against France and Wales. It’s an international award.
Given New Zealand’s dominance and England’s solid performances with their new-look team this year, just maybe Australia might slip back down the pecking order.
I’m not holding my breath, but if it does happen, then certain journalists and fans better get used to more Golden Boot winners from different countries.
Justthetip
Guest
It was the right decision for rugby league to have Johnson win it. Qld lost the origin but thurston had a decent season and played probably the best 50 minutes if footy that anyone has ever played. Losing origin and not playing 4 nations should have made it absolutely impossible for him to win it. Sb can't play origin so he doesn't lose or gain anything there. Great season and a gf that rivalled the best ever gf performance. Him not playing 4 nations makes it very difficult for him to win it. Plus he was leaving the code to play for the rival rugby code. Johnson is definitely the right decision!
Justthetip
Guest
There were crashes in bradburys qf, sf and gf. He's a legend for being an Aussie and being good enough to compete at that level. Surely his coaching was plenty of trial and error.
Justthetip
Guest
Mate you need to be the sideline mic for this season. Instead of bits of info that have been said 3 times being repeated we can get you in there for comic relief.
Justthetip
Guest
Thats a really good point. I wonder how cherry and foran would do with all the extra travel and stress. Maloney played fairly well for the warriors but would never have made nsw if he wasn't getting the consistent routine Sydney teams get, not to mention the exposure.
Justthetip
Guest
Stats are a great way to evaluate accurately cooper Cronks impact on a game but don't paint the full picture when it comes to Johnson or even thurston
Justthetip
Guest
If you go back to the first series qld won in the 8 straight. We lost the first game and Wayne Bennett was coach. Darren Lockyer was the dominant half at the time and Bennett handed it to thurston. Going into that 2nd game qld we're given no chance. Thurston made a lot of the 'big' plays in that game. The show and go he put on with qld 10 down with 10 mins to go was IMO the biggest turning point and play in origin history. I don't think ppl remember how little chance qld were given of winning that series. The semi final against the rooster. He has to wear responsibility for the terrible start, he is joint captain. But not even Andrew johns or Wally Lewis could have dragged there team back into that game. And he literally dragged them. Easily the best player I've ever seen play. In terms or impact, effort, contribution and for a bloke his size he spends bugger all time on the sideline.
Justthetip
Guest
I know I'm weeks late but Saying thurston lost qld the series is flat out the craziest thing I've heard. How about the first 2 games the ruck was reffed in the exact opposite way to what it was spose to. And mal meninga didn't adjust our game plan to suit till game 3 and it didn't matter as much because the ruck was totally cleaned up.
Muzz
Guest
I still shake my head when runs to the line, has eyes only for the lead runner and throws a no-look pass out the back.
Muzz
Guest
Actually, i think he's an embarrassment to the forwards union with such pretty hands and feet : )
Muzz
Guest
Hahaha - Dangerous ground, Guv. He is the 6th!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Anyway, you're wrong about Graham. Anyone who can play prop and halfback at the same time can also be anything, even a Kiwi, if he wants.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Imagine the midwives in Queensland if Wally Lewis was still playing. Where's Wally?
Muzz
Guest
The issue being that Grahem isn't a Kiwi.Where looking at a second NZ based team joining the NRL and everything is going to plan so please don't rock the boat. We have the 9's - A fantastic way to promote the game The Four Nations Tournament - The Kiwi's were the victors beating that RL juggernaut Oz Golden Boot Winner - The one and only Shaun Johnson. As we type away, there are dozens of babies being born in Auckland Hospital named Shaun making it very confusing for the midwifes.
Niall
Guest
I have a problem with how all awards are distributed in our game. What is the criteria??? It seems media profile seems to have too much impact on the Dally M awards rather than performance. The Golden Boot award criteria seems to change each year depending on what agenda, be that positive or negative, is being pushed by the magazine. The awards do send my head spinning. In the Super League 2 fifity/sixty-minute bench hookers have won the Man Of Steel award in the last six or seven years (James Roby and Darryl Clark) The Dally M postion awards frustrate the hell out of me as well. How was Jamie Lyon centre of the year?? How was DCE halfback of the year? If I had to choose a Golden Boot winner (I'll use my own criteria, gut feeling) James Graham gets it for me. One of the most unique players I have ever seen.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
No argument there.. in fact that's what my original post was saying, he was the right choice in 2012.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Whether or not I think Johnson is the best player in the world is absolutely irrelevant to the discussion. As you said, he was a worthy winner. Why can't that be enough? But I suspect it won't be so I'll add that I think James Graham is the best player in the world. But if I want someone who can electrify crowds, create publicity and present and exciting look to the game, Shaun Johnson fits the bill. Hope that helps.
kevin dustby
Guest
but you did not answer the question. he is a worthy winner of the boot but do you believe he is the best player in the world?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Sure, but Sinfield is a pretty decent player.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
My point was that such weak fixtures are no guide for measuring the ability of players, and certainly not for selecting the best in the world.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
What an odd creature humans are. They go so far as to put down a media award designed to promote and publicise the international arena by imagining it is something more than it is and then spitting the dummy when it is comes up short of their expectations. Johnson satisfied the award's criteria. Isn't that enough?