It’s back to business for Johnson
Warriors aim to return to winning ways
For the first time this year the Warriors prepare for a game on the back of a loss, but Shaun Johnson says nothing changes.
The team’s halfback has had a great start to the 2018 campaign, but couldn’t make as much of an impact in the 27-18 loss to the Broncos last weekend.
They take on the undefeated Dragons tomorrow night and given the way the Warriors played in their first five games, either their confidence has taken a knock or they’ve been given a wake-up call.
"I'm trying to run the ball a bit more, try to beat a few more defenders and just play a bit of footy."
Shaun Johnson
But Johnson says they’ve got to prepare just the same this week.
‘‘It’s back to business,’’ said Johnson, who’ll be playing his 149th game for the club.
‘‘We don’t like to get too ahead of ourselves when we win, we come in here with the attitude of getting better and it’s the same when you lose.
‘‘You can’t read too much into it sometimes. The Broncos ran harder than us at the weekend and they tackled harder than us.
‘‘We get back to basics, we worry about ourselves and show up Friday night with a really good attitude.’’
Throughout most of Johnson’s time at the Warriors, their results have been determined by how well he plays.
If he’s got space to run, or feed opportunities to the outside backs, then they’d usually come away with the two points.
If he’s closed down or hasn’t attacked the line enough, they’ve often lost.
But this year, he’s benefited from having Blake Green in the halves with him. The five-eighth, who has played for seven clubs previously, has taken care of steering the team around and allowed Johnson to be at his most creative.
‘‘I’ve tried to be a bit more eyes up,’’ he said.
‘‘With Greeny coming in, I don’t have to do a lot of the organising and that’s pretty evident.
‘‘Greeny has taken control there and it’s allowed myself, Roger [Tuivasa-Sheck] and whoever is filling in in the halves to get off the back of that.
‘‘I’m trying to run the ball a bit more, try to beat a few more defenders and just play a bit of footy.
‘‘It’s still definitely not the finished product, I’m still working on my game, still looking at areas I can improve on, especially with taking the line on, so hopefully we can get some of that going this weekend.’’
Johnson is playing on what has to be regarded as one of the best right edges the club has had in recent years.
He’s out there with Tohu Harris, Peta Hiku and David Fusitu’a. Four of those players have been getting plenty of plaudits this season, in Johnson, Harris and Fusitu’a, but Hiku has been the glue holding it all together.
‘‘He lets us know about it at training,’’ laughed Johnson. ‘‘He thinks he’s on fire, the big fella.
‘‘Collectively, that right edge with Tohu and Fus [David Fusitu’a] there as well, has done an awesome job so far.
‘‘But Peta has been a real rock there. His workload is pretty impressive, he never shies away from a tough carry and for me defending inside him, he’s always into me about staying on task there.’’