‘Exceptional’ JJ to lead the charge
...BUT EAGLES COACH WILL KEEP HIS RIVAL GUESSING
MARC Steutel expects in-form Jordan Johnson to lead from the front against his former club in Friday’s play-off clash against Caledonia Gladiators.
But Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles’ head coach won’t reveal whether the electric guard will return to the starting five.
And Steutel intends to keep opposite number Gareth Murray guessing after winning last week’s tactical battle north of the border.
Johnson came off the bench to drop 31 points on his ex-colleagues and secure a memorable 97-78 win in game one of the quarter-final series.
And Steutel said: “I ran out of positive descriptors for JJ a long time ago.
“He’s just JJ and he does whatever is required for the team to win.
“Jordan’s the ultimate professional, an exceptional team-mate and an exceptional person. He’s somebody that I just have great joy working with every day.”
Steutel initially kept his offensive powder dry last Friday – parachuting Devin Whitfield into the starting five in Johnson’s stead.
That move was designed to stifle Gladiators big gun Quade Green from the tip and prevent the hosts from getting off to the perfect start.
The tactic worked a treat before Johnson entered the fray and set about dismantling the nonplussed Caledonia defence.
Whitfield and Josh Ward-Hibbert drew warm praise from Steutel after restricting Green to just six points in game one.
But Johnson’s defensive contribution didn’t go unnoticed.
“JJ is so important for everything that we do,” added Steutel. “He puts so much pressure on the opposition defences and continues to do that consistently week-in, week-out.
“In Glasgow he scored the ball, shared the ball and looked after the ball. That’s what we’ve come to expect.
“But I thought he defended really well and there tends to be less attention on that side of his game.
“I counted three or four times in transition defence when his will to get back made the right play for his team. It was that – as much as the points and the assists – that made me exceptionally pleased on Friday.”
Johnson has been a marked man all season following his muchvaunted summer switch to Tyneside.
But the 2024 All Star can expect special attention from the Gladiators defence this week after riling his former club down the stretch.
Johnson chose to sink a deep triple in the final few seconds with a hefty margin of victory already secured.
And that decision appeared to anger ex-Eagle Kyle Johnson – Darius Defoe having to usher away his former team-mate as a melee developed on the final buzzer.
That ugly exchange adds extra spice to what already promised to be a fiery Anglo-Scottish affair on Tyneside.
And Newcastle will need Johnson to keep a cool head if they’re to secure a semi-final spot and avoid a game three decider north of the border on Sunday.
“I can’t describe how much I’ve loved working with JJ this season,” added Steutel.
“Not just last Friday but every day throughout the season.
“He’s helped to put us in the perfect position going into game two but we’ve already put last week’s performance to bed.
“It’s all about going again and building again against a very dangerous Gladiators outfit.”
Tickets for game two of this season’s play-off quarter-final series are available via boxoffice.newcastleeagles.com