Just a little

Under hype and growing expectation, some athletes thrive while others fade. Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson is undoubtedly amongst the former. Sunday News league writer Ben Stanley looks at the 21-year-old talent’s ascent to stardom.

A FEW words are said in the sheds, hands are gruffly patted on backs and Shaun Johnson rises from his bench seat to head out on to the league paddock.

This could be the scene in any of Johnson’s games over the last twelve months. That encounter in Melbourne where he bamboozled the Storm defence with his dancing feet; the NRL Grand Final where he almost single-handedly got the Warriors back into the game; or his Kiwis debut, where he guts out 75 minutes after taking a hard shoulder knock early, out-shining his mercurial skipper Benji Marshall.

It ain’t any of those. A year ago on Wednesday, and Johnson ran out on to Mt Smart Stadium No. 2 wearing the Auckland Vulcan’s blue and white strip, and faced the Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers in the New South Wales Cup.

There was hype before the game – we all know what legendary half Andrews Johns said about Johnson after his first Under-20s clash.

There was all that came after – the rise of a young star, who has taken on every obstacle and won through with maturity, poise and skill.

But that day he was just one of 17 blokes playing park footy. A young man, who scored a try and kicked six goals in a 40-18 romp.

Consider what Johnson has achieved over the last 12 months.

Think about the way he’s done it, the way he has reacted.

The way he’s combined his eclectic sporting backgrounds of Aussie rules, touch rugby, basketball and league to create some thing really special.

With so much skill, which at times seems almost poetically graceful, Johnson would be entitled to an ego of decent proportions.

He doesn’t have it. Still only 21, he speaks to the media with intelligence and consideration. On the park, he directs his team mates like a man with far more years in the NRL trenches.

Yet you can detect the smile on his face. This is fun seems to be his message. How cool is this? How lucky am I?

What is the limit for this kid, fans ask? Is this the next Benji Marshall? – as Aussie television commentator Gus Gould once exclaimed.

No. This is Shaun Johnson. Uncut, unedited. A human highlights reel, a 21-year-old who is still growing as a footballer and as a man. A student of his craft.

Warriors coach Brian Mcclennan has seen the growth, seen what Johnson can do in the fierceness of a first-grade battle and at training. He’s impressed.

‘‘All those hours he did as a kid growing up, they will have shaped him. That’s why Shaun is what he is,’’ he said.

‘‘For us, though, because he’s a pivot, his responsibility is to steer our team around and the more experiences he gets at that, the better our team will go.

‘‘I’m really pleased he’s making good progress there. The experience he’s had in Aussie rules and touch, yeah, they come to the fore for him every now and then and that’s great.

‘‘It’s part of what makes Shaun who he is. But what’s pleasing from the coaching staff’s point of view is how he’s learning to manage a game.’’

Johnson’s mate in the halves, James Maloney, has seen it too.

Maloney might be outta here in six months, Roosters bound, but he’s going to miss suiting up alongside ‘Magic’ Johnson on game day. Watching Johnson score his double against the Roosters, one try having a touch