August 23, 2024 • 9 mins
Greg 'Brandy' Alexander joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss Shaun Johnsons final game at Mt Smart Stadium and his influence on the game in New Zealand.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wilder
Grave from News Talks' be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Greg Brandy Alexander joining us on the program as we
look at the life and times of Sean Johnson. Greg,
Welcome to the show. It's the end of an era,
isn't it. Sewn Johnson's mean so much to the Warriors.
Indeed the key is but predominantly the wars He's been
there named for a long long time.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
He has and Darcy over the what is it fourteen years?
Fifteen years that he's been playing now, we've had many
chats about Sewn Johnson, most of them really good, you know.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
They they've got a period in.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
His career there where he left the Warriors went to
the Sharks. We were wondering whether we'd see the best
of him again, and I had my I certainly had
my doubts, but last year was so enjoyable to watch
what he was able to do for the Warriors last year,
and he was he was the main reason they ran
(01:05):
top four's and he's probably the main reason why they're
having the season they are this year, because yeah, to
take him, to remove him out of the scene and
injury and lack of motivation, whatever it is, he just
hasn't been the same this year and last year was.
I'm glad we got to see Sean Johnson play the
(01:28):
sort of footy he did last year because I'm out
of all these highlight seasons, I'm putting last year down.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Now he's to his best.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I think we saw the best of Sean Johnson because
we saw as Sean Johnson that we hadn't seen the
previous twelve years. We saw someone that cared more about
the result rather than just his individual four and how
he played. I think, you know, Sean could walk off
the field with a loss to the Warriors, but if
(01:56):
he played well, you know, he did his job. But
last year it was a little bit different. And he's
been a legend. Well he is a legend.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
He's a legend of New Zealand rugby league.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Mercurial up and down. This is the thing about Sean Johnson.
You ever quite sure which Sean Johnson is going to
turn up? You almost suspect greed that he didn't know either.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yeah, yes, yes and no.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
But but there comes a you know, it's pretty high
price tag and that and what you were expected to
do every game when you are as talented as Sean Johnson,
and sometimes it just doesn't work, you know, sometimes there's
games where things just don't open up and things don't happen.
But in terms of ability, skill, grace, you know, at times, toughness, uh,
(02:44):
you know, through he had all of those in in
bits and.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Pieces throughout his career.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
But I'll always remember Sean Johnson as someone that made
things look not easier.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
But everyone else can.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
You know, there's players, and there's been great ball players,
are great movers that have been able to create space
for themselves and for their for their men and for
their support players and put through holes and but no
one did it, and no one looked as good as
Sean Johnson doing it.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
He was just he was.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
It was artistry, it was it was choreographed brilliance, and
he was such a He's been such a treat to
watch over the years.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
He was throwing Greg Alexander into it reasonably early. He
came with big tickets from his time playing club football
and from playing tut rugby as well, so he always
had the tag on him and it took him a while,
maybe just to get comfortable with their position. Maybe it's
a little too early to get in him. What do
they say, if you're good enough? Were year old enough?
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Right? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
You know, and he starred for the for the Warriors
in the under twenties, you know, so there was there
was high expectations on Sean when he came in. And
you know, and I've spoken about this recently on Fox
Sports where you know, Darlie Cherry Evans.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
They played each other last week.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
They made their debooze in the same season, went to
the Grand went to the Grand Final against each other.
So you know, where does Sean you know, I guess
you know where does Sean rank in the in the
hierarchy of number sevens?
Speaker 4 (04:15):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
And Stacey who I played with to play and watched
him as a as a youngster when he first came
on in the in the scene in ninety five, I
remember saying back then, Stacey is one of the best,
one of the best juniors I've ever seen coming to grade.
And he just continued to play like that for his
whole career. Stacy and Shawn's similar, although He's had probably
(04:38):
more downs than Stace. It's not as consistent, but you
can't deny what he's done and and big games too
like who could forget was it the World Cup of
I can't remember what year it was, but Sean Johnson
in big games against Australia has delivered and that's uh,
you know, that's certainly another tick against Sewan's name.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Was that when he won the Golden Boot. Was that
that season?
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I think he won the Golden twenty fourteen, but yeah,
I'd have to check that, but yeah, I just know
that Sean Johnson, it has has had some enormous games
against yeah, Australia, you know, and if you can deliver
against the Australians, you know that.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
That puts you right up there.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
But as for someone that brought joy, and I'm sure
Sean would say that himself that he entertained people.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
That's that's what he was.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
He was an entertainer, but with a great ability. And
I'm just so happy that what we saw last year
was you know what what we what we were probably
hoping that we got from Sean Johnson, but boy to
do it and should have won the Dally And you know,
he was consistently the best player in.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
The competition last year.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Calen stole it from him with you know, ten great
performances and you know, you can't deny Kaleen, but Sean
was the best player from from start to finish last
year and that capped off what was a marvelous season
for the Warriors and for Sean, but not to be
but that takes nothing away from what he's been able
to achieve.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
The timing wise, you've experienced this. All players have the
decision to retire. When do you make that call? How
do you go through that process? What does it rely on?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
You're just being honest with yourself and knowing whether you
can you can put in another one hundred percent through
an off season and you can get yourself ready for
games mentally. You know, I think Sean, even though his
body's sort of failed him at different times over the.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Last few years. Yeah, I'm assuming.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
And I did read the story about him, you know,
possibly wanting to go around again and the Warriors offering
him a deal, and then it struck him that he
really you didn't.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Have it in him. So it is a light bulb moment.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Eventually you might be thinking about it, but something happens
and it just clicks and you go, I haven't got
it in me anymore. From me, Darcy, it was just
the ability to get myself up for a game mentally
get when normally you know, for most of your career
you don't have.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
To you're just ready to go.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
It becomes a chore when you have to really work
hard at getting yourself ready for a game and you
can't do that forever. That wears pretty thin quickly, and
then you realize that it's it is over tonight.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
He furnishes off in front of a home crowd. No,
there's nothing on the line. The eight is not achievable
for them up against the team the Bulldogs that are
still striving for a top four position. Will there be
a fair and tale finished? Do you think the sold
out crowd? You think that people might drive them to
something else because Adam Phil Blake's leavings weld Jaz Tavanger too.
It's a real fair, well, isn't it?
Speaker 4 (07:51):
It is?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
It is emotion can only take you so far. That
seems to disappear if if you're not willing to push
hard and do the things that you need to do
to win a game, That emotion surrounding individuals can disappear
pretty quickly. And I hope it doesn't because it makes
a hell of a difference between winning and losing. I
(08:14):
remember my last game, or what was to be my
last game at Penrith Stadium. We beat Canberra and I
couldn't imagine feeling the same and farewelling everyone and walking
around the ground and shaking hands with fans and getting photos.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
I couldn't imagine doing.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
It if we lost, because they're still part of me
that really desperately wanted to win football games.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
So I hope, for Sean's sake, they.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I hope they win and I hope it is and
that would really cap off a big night.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
But they're going to be tough to beat. The Dogs.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
They have been on the rise for the last month
and a half, so they're very confident. They're hitting hard,
their defense is good, their attacks improved over the.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Last month and a half to us.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
So if the Warriors aren't willing to really go with
them for eighty minutes, it's going to be a real challenge.
But you never know what that emotion can bring. If
they all believe that they can win the game.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Well we find out. It kicks off tonight eight o'clock
at Mount Smart and I'd say after this, you better
watch your back mate, I'd say Sean Johnson's going to
becoming half to your role and maybe even mine. Mate,
You've got a career in the media ahead of him,
I'm sure. Hey Brandy, as always, mate, thanks very much
for your time.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Good on you d Thanks mate.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to news Talks
there'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wilder
Grave from News Talks' be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Greg Brandy Alexander joining us on the program as we
look at the life and times of Sean Johnson. Greg,
Welcome to the show. It's the end of an era,
isn't it. Sewn Johnson's mean so much to the Warriors.
Indeed the key is but predominantly the wars He's been
there named for a long long time.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
He has and Darcy over the what is it fourteen years?
Fifteen years that he's been playing now, we've had many
chats about Sewn Johnson, most of them really good, you know.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
They they've got a period in.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
His career there where he left the Warriors went to
the Sharks. We were wondering whether we'd see the best
of him again, and I had my I certainly had
my doubts, but last year was so enjoyable to watch
what he was able to do for the Warriors last year,
and he was he was the main reason they ran
(01:05):
top four's and he's probably the main reason why they're
having the season they are this year, because yeah, to
take him, to remove him out of the scene and
injury and lack of motivation, whatever it is, he just
hasn't been the same this year and last year was.
I'm glad we got to see Sean Johnson play the
(01:28):
sort of footy he did last year because I'm out
of all these highlight seasons, I'm putting last year down.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Now he's to his best.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I think we saw the best of Sean Johnson because
we saw as Sean Johnson that we hadn't seen the
previous twelve years. We saw someone that cared more about
the result rather than just his individual four and how
he played. I think, you know, Sean could walk off
the field with a loss to the Warriors, but if
(01:56):
he played well, you know, he did his job. But
last year it was a little bit different. And he's
been a legend. Well he is a legend.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
He's a legend of New Zealand rugby league.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Mercurial up and down. This is the thing about Sean Johnson.
You ever quite sure which Sean Johnson is going to
turn up? You almost suspect greed that he didn't know either.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yeah, yes, yes and no.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
But but there comes a you know, it's pretty high
price tag and that and what you were expected to
do every game when you are as talented as Sean Johnson,
and sometimes it just doesn't work, you know, sometimes there's
games where things just don't open up and things don't happen.
But in terms of ability, skill, grace, you know, at times, toughness, uh,
(02:44):
you know, through he had all of those in in
bits and.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Pieces throughout his career.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
But I'll always remember Sean Johnson as someone that made
things look not easier.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
But everyone else can.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
You know, there's players, and there's been great ball players,
are great movers that have been able to create space
for themselves and for their for their men and for
their support players and put through holes and but no
one did it, and no one looked as good as
Sean Johnson doing it.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
He was just he was.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
It was artistry, it was it was choreographed brilliance, and
he was such a He's been such a treat to
watch over the years.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
He was throwing Greg Alexander into it reasonably early. He
came with big tickets from his time playing club football
and from playing tut rugby as well, so he always
had the tag on him and it took him a while,
maybe just to get comfortable with their position. Maybe it's
a little too early to get in him. What do
they say, if you're good enough? Were year old enough?
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Right? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
You know, and he starred for the for the Warriors
in the under twenties, you know, so there was there
was high expectations on Sean when he came in. And
you know, and I've spoken about this recently on Fox
Sports where you know, Darlie Cherry Evans.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
They played each other last week.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
They made their debooze in the same season, went to
the Grand went to the Grand Final against each other.
So you know, where does Sean you know, I guess
you know where does Sean rank in the in the
hierarchy of number sevens?
Speaker 4 (04:15):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
And Stacey who I played with to play and watched
him as a as a youngster when he first came
on in the in the scene in ninety five, I
remember saying back then, Stacey is one of the best,
one of the best juniors I've ever seen coming to grade.
And he just continued to play like that for his
whole career. Stacy and Shawn's similar, although He's had probably
(04:38):
more downs than Stace. It's not as consistent, but you
can't deny what he's done and and big games too
like who could forget was it the World Cup of
I can't remember what year it was, but Sean Johnson
in big games against Australia has delivered and that's uh,
you know, that's certainly another tick against Sewan's name.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Was that when he won the Golden Boot. Was that
that season?
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I think he won the Golden twenty fourteen, but yeah,
I'd have to check that, but yeah, I just know
that Sean Johnson, it has has had some enormous games
against yeah, Australia, you know, and if you can deliver
against the Australians, you know that.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
That puts you right up there.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
But as for someone that brought joy, and I'm sure
Sean would say that himself that he entertained people.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
That's that's what he was.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
He was an entertainer, but with a great ability. And
I'm just so happy that what we saw last year
was you know what what we what we were probably
hoping that we got from Sean Johnson, but boy to
do it and should have won the Dally And you know,
he was consistently the best player in.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
The competition last year.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Calen stole it from him with you know, ten great
performances and you know, you can't deny Kaleen, but Sean
was the best player from from start to finish last
year and that capped off what was a marvelous season
for the Warriors and for Sean, but not to be
but that takes nothing away from what he's been able
to achieve.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
The timing wise, you've experienced this. All players have the
decision to retire. When do you make that call? How
do you go through that process? What does it rely on?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
You're just being honest with yourself and knowing whether you
can you can put in another one hundred percent through
an off season and you can get yourself ready for
games mentally. You know, I think Sean, even though his
body's sort of failed him at different times over the.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Last few years. Yeah, I'm assuming.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
And I did read the story about him, you know,
possibly wanting to go around again and the Warriors offering
him a deal, and then it struck him that he
really you didn't.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Have it in him. So it is a light bulb moment.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Eventually you might be thinking about it, but something happens
and it just clicks and you go, I haven't got
it in me anymore. From me, Darcy, it was just
the ability to get myself up for a game mentally
get when normally you know, for most of your career
you don't have.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
To you're just ready to go.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
It becomes a chore when you have to really work
hard at getting yourself ready for a game and you
can't do that forever. That wears pretty thin quickly, and
then you realize that it's it is over tonight.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
He furnishes off in front of a home crowd. No,
there's nothing on the line. The eight is not achievable
for them up against the team the Bulldogs that are
still striving for a top four position. Will there be
a fair and tale finished? Do you think the sold
out crowd? You think that people might drive them to
something else because Adam Phil Blake's leavings weld Jaz Tavanger too.
It's a real fair, well, isn't it?
Speaker 4 (07:51):
It is?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
It is emotion can only take you so far. That
seems to disappear if if you're not willing to push
hard and do the things that you need to do
to win a game, That emotion surrounding individuals can disappear
pretty quickly. And I hope it doesn't because it makes
a hell of a difference between winning and losing. I
(08:14):
remember my last game, or what was to be my
last game at Penrith Stadium. We beat Canberra and I
couldn't imagine feeling the same and farewelling everyone and walking
around the ground and shaking hands with fans and getting photos.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
I couldn't imagine doing.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
It if we lost, because they're still part of me
that really desperately wanted to win football games.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
So I hope, for Sean's sake, they.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I hope they win and I hope it is and
that would really cap off a big night.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
But they're going to be tough to beat. The Dogs.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
They have been on the rise for the last month
and a half, so they're very confident. They're hitting hard,
their defense is good, their attacks improved over the.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Last month and a half to us.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
So if the Warriors aren't willing to really go with
them for eighty minutes, it's going to be a real challenge.
But you never know what that emotion can bring. If
they all believe that they can win the game.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Well we find out. It kicks off tonight eight o'clock
at Mount Smart and I'd say after this, you better
watch your back mate, I'd say Sean Johnson's going to
becoming half to your role and maybe even mine. Mate,
You've got a career in the media ahead of him,
I'm sure. Hey Brandy, as always, mate, thanks very much
for your time.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Good on you d Thanks mate.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to news Talks
there'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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