Gold Coast captain Ryan James has picked Blake Green to be one of the buys of the 2018 NRL season after watching the new Warriors playmaker pick apart his side in their 20-8 reverse in Auckland.
Green played the full 80 in his Warriors home debut on Saturday, setting up a Roger Tuivasa-Sheck try and proving the perfect foil for a liberated Shaun Johnson.
James – whose side were missing their own playmaker-in-chief, the injured Ash Taylor – said Green’s arrival had completely changed the Warriors’ game.
The Aucklanders suddenly appeared focused and composed on attack, and could look to the likes of Tuivasa-Sheck and Johnson to play off the cuff.
“He adds probably a bit of calmness and takes a lot of the kicking and the pressure off Shaun Johnson and Roger,” the 26-year-old forward said.
“They can do what they want when they want, Green runs the team around.
“One of the better buys the Warriors have had.”
Johnson, for his part, said he was glad to get the two competition points but felt the side’s attacking game had been slapdash, and could still improve.
The Warriors racked up 24 successful offloads against the Titans but managed just four tries, bombing chance after chance in the second stanza.
Johnson felt his partnership with Green was blossoming.
“It’s still fresh, still new, so it’s going to happen, going to keep growing – there’s no more valuable time than being out there together,” Johnson said.
“This week was another learning curve for us, another step.”
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Who are the hardest working big men in the NRL?
Graham Annesley has admitted the match officials got it wrong and the Titans should've been given a set restart after a Raiders player was…
Cranky old coaches Des Hasler and Ricky Stuart reportedly engaged in a post-match argument outside Canberra's dressing room following the Titans' controversial golden-point loss…
Ricky Stuart says Gold Coast coach Des Hasler is "on another planet" after the Titans boss blasted the refereeing in his side's golden point…
1. Sea Eagles see no evil The Manly Sea Eagles are a loveable bunch, which is why they famously don’t have to carry banners…
Cowboys coach Todd Payten recently said he thinks Scott Drinkwater is knocking on the door for State of Origin but his star fullback is…
