Transfers are being confirmed by the day as 2017 line-ups start to take shape. With each passing week we can be more confident in our predictions for next season.
Of course plenty will change before Round 1 kicks off next year, but with the way things look right now, I believe it will be the year we finally see the best of Shaun Johnson.
Since debuting for the New Zealand Warriors in 2011 as a fresh faced 20-year-old, Johnson has given us many glimpses of what he has the potential to be. Shaun Johnson’s highlights reel is sure to be one of the best in modern day rugby league, with his electrifying speed and footwork headlining his classy skills. But the problem with Johnson, as is the problem with the Warriors side in general, is his consistency.
After the New Zealand-based side failed to qualify for finals football again in 2016, questions are being asked surrounding the capability of the coaching staff, the playing group, and Shaun Johnson himself. A host of superstars in the Warriors line-up have not provided the results to the hype they have been getting.
They will head into the 2017 season with possibly the best spine in he competition on paper. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is a game breaking, premiership-winning fullback, who has the footwork and speed to match that of Johnson. Kieran Foran will join the club and most likely wear the number six jersey alongside Johnson in the halves, while Issac Luke remains in the hooking role, where he has excelled for a number of years at both South Sydney and more recently the Warriors.
It’s the addition of the former Manly Sea Eagles and Parramatta Eels half that I believe will improve Johnson’s form. Even after a short stint with the Eels, Foran showed what a cool head can do for a team.
Former halves partner Corey Norman was able to play his natural running game while Foran played the role of the organising half. There’s no doubting that, while his passing and kicking games are both up to standard, Johnson’s running game is the pinnacle of his abilities.
Johnson was partnering Jeff Robson in the halves for a portion of this season, and to make it worse they had him wearing the six jumper. How can you expect to get the best of Johnson when he is given a majority of the responsibility in terms of ordering the team and being the key playmaker? This isn’t saying he couldn’t handle the role, but taking the pressure off of his shoulders should really open up his natural game.
The closest Johnson has come to the Dally M medal is the Golden Boot award in 2014, which in itself is prestigious, but he can and should go one better in 2017. It’s a big claim and it’s also a risky one but we know what Johnson can do, and we know what Foran can do for a team, so if there was any year that Warriors fans should be getting excited about, it’s 2017.
What do you think about the idea of Johnson being the best player of 2017?
Do you agree or disagree with this article? If you disagree, who’s your early tip for the 2017 Dally M Medal?
tmt3
Roar Rookie
Concern #1: After several seasons of being in the NRL, Shaun is still trying to "find his feet". Someone needs to help him with his kicking game (this is not touch rugby!). Concern #2: Johnson's inconsistency is identical to the Warriors' consistency, which makes one wonder about that fact. Concern #3: Flashes of brilliance seem more like touch rugby moves on display, instead of what you would see Andrew Johns or Jonathan Thurston do. Even Benji Marshall would take the line on more, and distribute/create for/with others set plays, rather than waiting for a gap to open up before doing so. Summary: I feel that Shaun Johnson is more of a touch player more than anything. He goes missing a lot in games. Solution/recommendation: play him from the bench, or at full-back or wing, where he has more space to do his 'touch' thing, or where he comes off the bench, he has just have the one-off burst of brilliance etc. Side note: just because you have bursts of brilliance every now and then, doesn't make you a great player. Its the small consistent things that make players great. I think people tend to forget that, and they get caught looking at flashy players who don't know the game well enough yet, like Lolohea at the Warriors. Tonnes of potential, but will he just turn out like Johnson, 6 years after the fact still trying to 'find his feet'???
Mal Webster
Roar Rookie
Shaun Johnson is a good choice - but what about Foran himself? The Warriors have struggled for consistency with Shaun Johnson at halfback and Foran will take some of the pressure of him. Foran has the ability both to take a back seat and take the game on and a fresh start at the Warriors should help him. He is one of those players that teams struggle to win without; his career winning percentage is above 62 - Manly's success dipped dramatically when he wasn't in the team, even with Daly Cherry-Evans. The Warriors will benefit from his toughness, direct running and leadership. I wouldn't pick him for Dally M myself but he has a shot.
Aem
Guest
I would say it's not a causal relationship between Warriors losing and Johnson being quiet though - I think there's a mutual causation there. The pack. When the pack is significantly beaten (and this is the case fairly often), the Warriors lose. Johnson really isn't good at playing behind a beaten pack - no shame in that, in the NRL right now there's pretty much only Thurston who can do it (not that he has to these days). The pack has a few issues - balance (Mannering in the middle) and lack of classy middles are the most immediate ones. Matulino is good but underperformed this year (and spent parts of the two previous years wasted on the edge because Cappy), Lillyman is fine but needs guys around him, Vete is promising but worryingly bad in the tackle, Lisone is prone to brain explosions and really fell off a cliff in the back half of 2016. Of the others, Gubb, Sao & Gavet are useless - 2nd string guys at best. Sipley's injuries have left him short a motor, and Tuli has been completely ignored. They need a middle... or two. Foran ain't going to fix that.
MAX
Guest
Prior to his injury Shaun Johnson is one of the most magnetic players ever sighted on a RL paddock. Since then he appears to be still conscious of the injury. With that in mind I am dumbfounded why he is going to the 4N. Sadly, the DM is not for SJ in '17. The DM 2017 will be won by a full back. I agree with Albo's assessment of Matt Moylan and he would probably be most fans choice in comparison with my nomination of Jack Wighton. There is every possibility that they will be the #1's in the GF of 2017. What Matt did in '16 Jack will do in '17... you could see it unfolding against the Storm. Season 2017 will belong to a knowing and confident Jack Wighton.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
My question in that case is why the Kiwis are having him run out half fit instead of getting healthy for next years NRL season and world cup after.
Albo
Guest
Well I think a lot of things have to go right for the Warriors ( like we say every year) for Johnson to be any chance of winning the Dally M in 2017. I am not sure any of us should be too confident about their "best spine in the competition" based on recent history of all of their performances ! Luke had his worst season in a decade this year, RTS had a very bad injury , Foran had all the problems under the sun, and Johnson had one of his least impactful seasons to date ! The Warriors once again bowed out without a whimper. Why will 2017 be any different ? I think only blind faith that the Warriors must eventually come good ( this time thanks to a very troubled Foran) is at play with your selection of Johnson as Dally M winner for 2017. We've been burnt many times before ! I prefer less riskier candidates . I think Matt Moylan is a good bet for that award in 2017. He finally grasped the true potential in his game at the end of the last season and his confidence skyrocketed after his State of Origin campaign. He improved his ball playing & attacking performances in every match following the SOO , and he has a very well balanced, highly talented and still improving team to run around the park in 2017.
Stu
Guest
Still carrying that quad injury (hence Luke kicking for kiwis) will be back to fitness next year.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
It could happen, especially if he can start putting up that horrible to catch floating bomb of his again -- hugely absent this year and a big factor in his 2014/15 effectiveness.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The Road Runner is a freak. He is not overrated at all.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's true Stu. Probably because when Johnson's quiet the Warriors lose so there's a lot of focus on him. If say, Thurston has a quiet game then a Taumalolo or Morgan or Coote, etc can get the Cowboys over the line. So there's less focus on Thurston. For the Warriors to have a successful season, it's probably better that Johnson doesn't poll well. Hopefully it means that other players are stepping up and winning games for them.
maximillian
Roar Rookie
That's true. I think part of the issue is he has to lead the team around the park as well as be the main playmaker, kicker etc. His strength is his running game so if he has another halves partner that can lead the team around, that would allow Johnson to pick & choose when to inject himself & he would be more effective. Foran can definitely be the halves partner he needs & we have already seen good things when the 2 line up with the Kiwis.
Stu
Guest
If the warriors finish top 4 he will get the Dally M. When the warriors win he is always best on field. In the Roar MVP articles he finished 3rd this year and was the highest ranked Warrior in the Dally Ms. People seem to think hes over rated but thats just because the media blame him for every loss they have.
BigJ
Roar Guru
It certainly has merit, Johnson is a great player and the way things have be going can lead the Warriors to their first title next year. Great article mate, keep them coming.