NRL: Johnson destined for greatness

Shaun Johnson. Photo / Getty Images.

As Shaun Johnson celebrates a century of NRL games today, it's hard not to look ahead.

The halfback has so much in front of him — at least another 150 games if he continues at the same rate — and it feels like he is only now hitting his potential.

Although fans have marvelled at his feats since 2011, he has grown considerably since last year's Four Nations triumph.

His performances in recent weeks have hinted at a new chapter, a new beginning for a player who seemed destined for greatness. He could experience his second taste of finals football this year and, with Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck alongside in 2016, who knows what could be achieved at Mt Smart?

But after 99 games, 44 tries, 538 points and 7821 minutes, it's logical to look back.

Johnson is already an NRL star and one of the sport's most recognisable players. He scores tries and makes breaks in a manner that leaves fans struggling for superlatives and casting down the years for comparisons.

His talent is almost taken for granted. His try against the Storm last weekend was a beauty but he has scored four or five others like that in 2015, still managing to escape defences despite being more closely marked than ever.

But it has not all been easy. In four-and-a-half seasons, he's played under five head coaches. He's seen the sad exit of Brian McClennan and the struggles under Matt Elliott. Johnson hasn't always played behind a dominant pack, and has often had plenty of inexperience outside him in the backline. He's been the constant thread in the halves, while his partners have changed: James Maloney, Thomas Leuluai, Chad Townsend.

And he's had to live up to the hype. After his under-20s debut in 2009, league star Andrew Johns said he hadn't been "this excited about a player in a long time". Talk about expectation.

"He was this small, skinny white guy with his headgear on all the time," remembers Manu Vatuvei of Johnson in 2009. "He was a bit soft — I always mock him about that — but he's the man now. He was pretty quiet when he first came into the team, but as a halfback, you had to be quite demanding of the ball. But he's evolving all the time, getting better and the best is yet to come."

Nathan Friend first spent time with Johnson in December 2011, as the Warriors convened for pre-season training.

"I saw a young guy, with great footwork and someone mentally trying to learn his craft," says Friend. "He was keen, he was eager and he still is ... that's why you see him progressing each week and each year. He's not one to think he's made it, he's happy to take advice."

Johnson has already provided enough footage for several highlights reels, but he's also become a more rounded player.

He's been the goalkicker since 2013 and trails only Jones, Vatuvei and Maloney in terms of Warriors point-scoring. He's got a good all-round kicking game, with one of the best bombs in the NRL, and a long spiral pass off either wing. For such an attack-minded player, he's also learnt to defend, averaging almost 14 tackles a game this season compared with 10 in 2011.

"He has matured on the pitch, especially from his experience with the Kiwis and in other big games," says Friend. "He's required to steer the team around and he has done that well this year. He is still a young guy, very appreciative of the position he is in and, like all of us, living the dream."

That dream needs to continue against the Roosters this afternoon. Johnson had a red letter day last Sunday — 213 metres from 15 runs, eight tackle breaks, two line breaks — but needs to fire again today, such is his overall influence on the team.

The Warriors have been the NRL's best attacking team in the past month and, along with the Broncos and Raiders, average an NRL-high four tries a game. But the Roosters defence is in a different class to most of the teams in the competition, and is ominously starting to resemble the wall that won the 2013 title.