League: Warrior is happier to watch Origin than play a NZ version of it

Shaun Johnson likes watching his teammates oppose each other in Origin. Photo / Getty Images

State of Origin is "a pretty good standard" but international football remains the pinnacle of league, says Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson.

Johnson enjoyed Wednesday night's Origin opener as a neutral observer but believes the Kiwis toppled a stronger Kangaroos line-up - made up of the best players from both Queensland and New South Wales - in the recent Anzac test.

"I watched the full game. It's always a pretty good standard so it was good to watch," said Johnson.

"I still think playing for your country is the pinnacle.

"Probably just because of the grudge they've got towards one another, they probably see it like that, but we played an Aussie side a couple of weeks ago from both those teams combined, so I'd probably say that's a better team."

The Kiwis test No7 dismissed suggestions New Zealand should look to replicate the Origin contest saying it was a concept best left to the Australians.

The 26-year-old had no allegiance to the Blues or Maroons and doubted how outsiders could passionately embrace either team.

"No, I couldn't imagine it," he said of a potential Kiwi Origin.

"A lot of us are just quite happy watching Aussies bash each other so I think we should leave it up to them.

"I've never supported either side and a lot of people have given me some grief for it over the years.

"But I've said before, I don't really see how you can be so passionate for one state when you're from Otara or Whangaparaoa."

Watching Warriors' teammates Ryan Hoffman and Jacob Lillyman oppose each other for the Blues and Maroons gave the match some added appeal and Johnson liked what he saw from both forwards.

"It was pretty cool just to watch those boys. That's probably why I had a bit more interest in it.

"I've watched Bull [Lillyman] in it the last couple of years but having Hoffman in there is pretty cool as well. "Both those boys played really well."

Rather than trying to manufacture an Origin like contest, Johnson backed calls for a stand-alone representative period which could allow the Kiwis to stage a three-test series, potentially against Pacific Island nations, Papua New Guinea, or even England.

"That would be quite cool. If they were going to have a stand-alone [rep weekend] it would certainly be cool to have some international fixtures in there.

"I'm always up for playing New Zealand so the more games we can play for them the better."

Meanwhile, coming off last week's bye round the Warriors are focused on maintaining their momentum as they prepare to face the Newcastle Knights at Mt Smart Stadium tomorrow.

Back-to-back away wins over Cronulla and Parramatta were encouraging but coach Andrew McFadden warned that progress could be quickly brought undone.

"It can all quickly disappear this weekend unless we perform so we know we've got to turn up," McFadden said.

"It's really tough to get two competition points so if you're going to get them it's going to have to be on the back of another good, tough performance.

"That's probably what we learned out of those two wins away, that sometimes we look at all the fancy stuff that we can do, but winning games really comes down to playing a tough style of footy and I think we're learning to do that."

Johnson agreed it was a vital match and said they were intent on rewarding their fans after falling to a 32-28 defeat to the Gold Coast in their last home appearance on Anzac Day.

"It's big. Going into the bye we had two good road wins. The last time we played out here we were really disappointing so we really want to give our supporters something to go home happy with."