It’s make or break for Shaun Johnson

In the annals of rugby league, there haven’t been too many players like Andrew Johns.

One of the greatest players to have ever pulled on a jersey, when ‘Joey’ talks people tend to listen.

So when the former Newcastle maestro said of Shaun Johnson “I haven’t been this excited about a player in a long time”, people sat up and took notice – that is, if they hadn’t already.

Having already set the internet abuzz courtesy of a highlights package containing his amazing feats on the touch football field, Johnson’s beginnings in the sport were similar to those of fellow Kiwi Benji Marshall.

Naturally, comparisons were made. After Johns offered his initial assessment of Shaun Johnson, he became referred to as ‘the next Benji’ or ‘the next SBW’, in reference to fellow New Zealand rugby league poster boy Sonny Bill Williams.

Despite the code being dominated by Australia and its players, ironically it’s often been the Kiwi superstars who have become so adept at capturing the attention, and subsequent adulation, of rugby league fans.

Shaun Johnson is off to the Sharkies. (AAP Image/SNPA, Martin Hunter)

The aforementioned appraisal by Johns occurred almost a decade ago. That’s a long time in rugby league. In that same span of time, Benji Marshall had not only won a Premiership with his club the Wests Tigers, but also established himself as one of the elite playmakers in the world.

Sure, he had experienced a few injury plagued seasons following the grand final triumph in 2005, but he emerged from the other side a more mature player and became a true match-winner for the Tigers.

Similarly, fellow New Zealand wunderkind Sonny Bill Williams – who made his debut in 2004 (a year after Marshall) for the Bulldogs – had become one of the most talked about players in the game after only a handful of games in his first season, during which he won a Premiership with the blue-and-whites.

Following his breakout rookie year, Williams’ career took a number of unpredictable and astonishing turns, including a controversial switch to rugby union, but he never stopped improving – both on the field and off it.

Ultimately, he would return to the National Rugby League for a two-year stint with the Sydney Roosters, winning a second Premiership and reminding the world just how talented he was in the 13-man game.

In fact, it could be argued that, despite his absence, he came back an even better player, due to his maturity and increased discipline which resulted in his constant desire to improve every facet of his game.

So, here we are – ten years later. By most standards, Shaun Johnson has had a pretty satisfying career up to this point.

During his 150-plus appearances for the Warriors, and 29 caps for his native New Zealand, Johnson has shown on a number of occasions that he is a true rugby league talent.

However, when considering how many thought his career would play out – once again I must make reference to the “I haven’t been this excited about a player in a long time” analysis – Johnson’s place among the greats of the game, or even within the ranks of his fellow countryman, isn’t exactly assured.

The trophy cabinet for the Warriors remains bare, although this is hardly Johnson’s fault, and the popularity of rugby league in New Zealand remains stagnant, on an even keel almost – not growing, but also not decreasing at a rate which could be considered alarming.

While these particular state of affairs could be attributed to a number of factors other than Johnson, there is no doubting the fact that he has failed to step up to the plate on a number of occasions when it has mattered most.

New Zealand’s Kevin Proctor (left) celebrates with try-scorer Shaun Johnson. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Perhaps the greatest representation of the gap which exists between himself and stars such as Williams and Marshall has been his inability to become a true game-breaker, or a ‘must-watch’ player.

Although Williams and Marshall never won many player-of-the-year awards, and spent almost as much time off the field as on it early in their careers, there’s no doubting that they presented a genuine worry for their opponents in every game they played.

In most cases – and this is what makes them special – it wasn’t through any flawless execution of set pieces (although they do a fine job of that as well), but innumerable displays of “did you see that?” moments which would break a game wide open.

Not only did they help their team’s chances of success, but they kept people interested in the game as they waited to see what exactly these whiz kids could do next. They were winners for their respective clubs, both on and off the field.

Although both Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall ended up departing from the clubs for whom they made their debut (although Marshall would eventually make a triumphant return), both the Tigers and Bulldogs were bending over backwards to please them. They knew the value of having a genuine superstar in their side.

2005 was a special year. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

For the Warriors, Johnson was supposed to be that guy. The game-breaker, the skilful magician who wowed audiences both in his home country and abroad. But somehow, he never got there.

While players like Sonny Bill, Johnathan Thurston, Latrell Mitchell et al adapted to the rigours of the modern game and flourished, Johnson never truly became a force in the sport.

In regards to his value for the Warriors, one of the true measuring sticks in regards to a player’s influence, the final nail was firmly hammered into his coffin late last year when he was released by the club.

It was reported that Johnson had requested his release from the club, with some additional details regarding the Warriors’ dissatisfaction about Johnson’s supposed ‘attitude problems’, among other vague pieces of information.

While the exact circumstances regarding his exit from the Warriors aren’t exactly clear cut, the fact remains that if the club really wanted him, and he was a truly valuable asset, he would be gearing up to play for them again this season.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Instead, Johnson now calls himself a member of the Cronulla Sharks roster, although even that isn’t set in stone following the club’s salary cap breeches.

Should Shaun Johnson take the field for Cronulla this season, it will undoubtedly be one of the greatest Tests of his career.

While Andrew Johns’ excitement levels may have been lowered somewhat in the last eight or so years since Johnson made his debut, it is not out of reach for the incumbent Kiwis halfback to take his game to the next level now he’s at a different club and cement his legacy as one of the finest New Zealand products.

If he did so, he would finally live up to that potential – the potential which has always seemed just beyond his reach.

While it may be too late for him to become the true superstar of rugby league that some thought he’d become, if Johnson is able to assert his influence at the Sharks, there’s no doubting that the next phase of his career will be very exciting indeed.