August 31, 2024 • 11 mins
A fairytale finish to the NRL career of Warriors star Shaun Johnson.
The retiring halfback's laid on the pass for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak's match-winning try - as the visitors erased an 18-point halftime deficit for a 30-28 victory over the Sharks in Cronulla.
Former Warrior Adam Blair joined Piney to discuss Johnson's NRL farewell.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Warriors have completed a remarkable comeback to stum the
Sharks in their NRL season finale in Sydney. Trailing twenty
two points to four at halftime, they scored four unanswered
tries to lead twenty six twenty two before Cronulla scored
a converter tried to go ahead twenty eight twenty six,
but with only seconds remaining, the retiring Sewn Johnson.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Did this possibly their last checks Hagen, the Walker, Johnson
Czime calenc Rinzi's own script Riddled, produced directed by Sean Johnson.
The movie his last game Winzard for the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah cut out pass to Delan watenis Lesniak who dotted
down in the corner for a hat trick of tries
for him and a thirty twenty eight went for the
Warriors over the Sharks. As well as Sean Johnson. Of course,
Adam Vanua, Blake and Jazz Tavanga also played their final
matches for the club last night. Former Warrior, NRL triple
centurion and now Skysport Rugby League analyst Adam Blair joins
(01:21):
us Adam fairy tarl endings don't always happen, and of
course the Warriors haven't made the eight. But how pleased
were you to see Sean Johnson go out on a
bit of a high last night with a match winning
play with his final action in a Warrior's shirt.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:35):
How great was that for? You know, not only is
the Warriors and the fans by Sean Johnson, And like
you said, not everyone goes on anything. And last weekend,
you know at Mount Go media stated he would have
got there, he didn't get it, but last night he
had his fingerprint over everything. I thought that's sick enough.
Now I'm going to be real honest. I didn't think
they looked likely of winning the game, like you said,
(01:55):
I think it was twenty two four at halftime and
they had to come out and play some footy. But
you know, I thought Sewn Johnson stepped up in the
second half and had his fingerprints have everything right to
the end into the last second, in that long or
the doll and he has saw. I had a bit
of work to do, but a nice train and a
nice way to finish off all those boys that are
leaving as well, do.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
You reckon any part of Sean Johnson wonders if he
should go around again.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
No, no, not at all. You know, I put myself
in Sean's shoes and my tongue when I was about
to finish up. And I think the push off the
last weekend's game that go media dame, and I guess
the build ups have been as a final home game,
and the emotion and all the energy were to use
to try and get through their week. You could see
the smile on his face last and last night's game
(02:39):
from the moment he ran now to the moment he
finished with their kick and missed the goal. That those
are the moments that you just know that yep, you've
made the right decision. And your addies right there, and
I thought he looked like they're through the whole game.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Of course, I mean very similar to yourself. You had
fifteen seasons in the NRL. He's just finished his fourteenth,
so pretty similar. Do you remember, Adam, how you felt
in the in the few days or weeks after your
final game? What back in twenty twenty.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Yeah, well I'm a little bit different. Shawn arm haven't
had like a real I guess colorful career. Like Sean Daddy,
he was an icon hair in New Zealan arm You know,
every single kid, every single kid looked up to the
things that he did. He was magical when he come
on stage on the big stage in twenty eleven. And
I think, you know, my decision was literally last minute.
(03:24):
It was Captain's run, getting the circle, tell the boys
that's done. Hey boys, let's switch over the focus, because
again I wanted to just finish off on a high
and enjoy those moments that I had left of my teammates,
those last moments in the dressing rooms, the last moment
on the field. And yeah, so mine was a little
bit different. But he deserves everything he has. He's been
a legend here in New Zealand for not only international spress,
(03:45):
the key we's, but also had the worries and every kid,
including my kid's love and thinks he's a legend. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Well, barring any remarkable you know, change of mind and
one hundred and eighty degree turn and coming back, let's
just assume he's not coming back. Do you think Tomighty
Martin will get first crack at the seven jersey next season?
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Yeah, I think there's a lot of conversations around in
the halves at the Warrior thing like this year we
would have said, you know, we've got six six different
halves and we've got six too many. And you know,
you get through the year and the injuries are everywhere
and they're trying to find these combinations and not too
many played together throughout the year. They had most really
five or six different changes. And I think Tomati's in
(04:25):
the box seat. I think like most of the boys,
Metcalf and Cluders, you've got to get for a solid
preseason to give yourself some confidence so that you can
go into the season feeling like that position is yours.
It's up to anyone to just grab them. And I
think Chanelle can do a good job. To thinkke Metcalf
can do a good job, and I also think Tomidy
can do a good job. So the balls in their
hands and if they work really hard, they get but
(04:47):
all definitely own that position.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, and you're so rong. I'm just looking at the
lineups that the Warriors have had and it's been, yeah,
a lot of chopping and changing. Around six and seven.
I think Charns nicol Klukstera even had a game in
the six jumper at one stage, how important, Adam, is
it to find to find a combo you like, a
six seven you like and barring and give them a
decent run in those positions.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Well, it's important you see, the best teams and the
competition at this time of the year are playing their
best halves in the right positions and consistency around combinations.
And I guess the most thing is confidence for halves.
They are your main players. They are your go to
that your leaders, They are your guys that get you
in the right position to finish off your sets. So
it's important that you have that consistency around the same
(05:31):
halves all year. If you're chopping in chosing like we've
seen this year, obviously injuries haven't helped as well, you're
going to get kind of similar results to what we have.
But like you said, Chancey step doesn't. There may be
something some thinking around Chance going into that sixth position
next year and someone else going to the Senate. And
I thought, he's a bigger body, he's got some got
some ball playing ability, and you know we're seetain to
(05:51):
open at the back last night. I think he's he's
an n RL starter without a doubt, but does he
hang around? Does does is it off by someone else?
So there's options there for the worries, but they need
to play the people in the right positions.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
For me, Yeah, you know you've rippened my mind on
Tane in to a bicky. I thought he was terrific
last night. It's only had six games this season. Same
with Ali Leah Dawa as well, only the six games
of Hermie was good last night too. Can you see
those two playing a more significant role next year?
Speaker 4 (06:19):
Oh well, I put Tane in the similar position to
Challenge when Charms was first trying to come through the
Warriors pathways with Roger blocking him from getting a position
at starting at the fullback. So I feel like if
if they're not going to play or play Tane to Opiki,
I think he finds himself at another club because I
think he's a fast up start at any team if
they're looking for a fallback, he's got their different mold
(06:40):
or fallback, a lot smaller lot, quicker lot, more agile
on their feet, similar to Kanu Kenny. So yeah, Ali,
the good thing about the Warriors and the future looks
for it. They've seen we've seen them be able to
bleed some of these young forwards through. Obviously you're losing
Adam Fana Blake, but he also got a Rocco Berry
has been sitting on the side. I think they're the future.
These young guys that have come through the pathways are
(07:02):
the future. Consistency with them getting time on the fielders
is important. So preseason that's where it all start with him.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Where do you reckon? We'll see Roger Tivivaskischek playing most
off the next season.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
I'm gonna say, Wing, that's just me having a stab.
I just don't think he's He's like, he's a fallback
without a doubt. But you know what I mean, like
you've got chance, you've got time to pick in the
game's changing real quick. You've seen someone like hink Gufflerson.
I think the game's starting to move past the older
guys with obviously these young guys coming through with the
faster feat the more athletic, you know what I mean,
(07:34):
You're not gonna you're gonna lose most of the leadership
of what and the quality of what they bring. But
he got these kids that just come into the game
and just play some football. So I think they find
himself on the on the wing again, You've got some
other wingers there as well, so some challenging times for
the Warriors and some I guess you've got an off
season to try and plan and see what there looks like.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
We know edon Fanola Blake's off to the Sharks. Do
we know where Jase Tavun is going?
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Not at the moment. I think, you know, someone like
Jazz could fit into any club. I like, I've got
a podcast I mentioned him going to the Bulldogs. I
think he fits into that, that mental that they have
that just keeps tuning up and keep working. He's obviously
got a good relationship with Todd Payton at the Cowboys
that could end up going over there. And then maybe
Benji Marshall might offer him a lifeline at at the Tigers.
So these are just my thoughts. And might have Finanza
(08:18):
and I think he could add value to all three clubs,
all right.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
And just I was watching that game last night, the
second half of particular, Adam, I'm sure you were as well,
and I was thinking to myself, Man, wouldn't it be
great if they were like this here every week? And
I'm sure that's the you know, that's the golden ticket
that every team's after. But why do you think it
was so hard for the Warriors to find consistency this year?
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Definitely the ins and out of swapping positions and people
not playing in the right position, to injuries. I think
he might have heard if you watched that right to
the end of Sean Johnson's interviews. He managed to get
three consecutive games, and I don't think he's had that
all year. So when when your spine can get some
games together, they start getting a bit of a feel
for the game and they see things because this is
(08:59):
what they do. They get their flow on. And that's
what Sewan said. He felt like he was in his
own last night. So when he set up that last play,
it was like at a seat Quin's play that they've trained,
they've seen it. But this was the third week in
the raid that he's managed to get on the field
and it just all seemed to come to get at
the right time push on last night. So you know,
they've got to get they've got to get consistency about
just making sure that they've got time on the field
(09:20):
and connection together. It's important spines. Spines are the big
part of your team, and it may be an offseason
where they hang out together. Maybe it's simple as having
a coffee and having a chat, you know, and building
those relationships, seeing those connections and being tight as a group.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
That's how that happens. Are we heited for a Storm
Panthers Grand Final? Do you think?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (09:39):
You know, I think Nathan Clear is a big part
of that pen of Panthers and I'm guessing he's going
to be back in the in the fold the next
coming weeks and it's important that they get in there.
I definitely think the Storm are going to be there.
Maybe two weeks ago I said storm pen of Panthers
in the Grand Final, it's all over. But I've late
seen someone like the Roosters come into contention. Don't know
about their defense. I know they can score a lot
(10:00):
of times and they play a lot of football, but
you know, when it comes down to the Grand finals
or winning games in this in this next of the competition,
it's defense that win's premierships. And I think, yeah, I
think both teams know how to play these big moments
and they could be those two good stuff.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Well, it's great chatting to you, Adam. I hope You've
had a great father's day, mate. Thanks for taking the time.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Thank you well. I appreciate it all the best.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Adam Blair joining us to talk Warriors there. Yeah, I
think the you know, the the unpacking of the Warriors
season will happen over the next little while. The season
reviews will take place, and yeah, let's hope that that
lessons are learned. I think, you know, they always are,
aren't they. I think back to this time last year
and we were looking forward to the Warriors and their
finals run. We don't have that to look forward to
(10:42):
this year obviously, and you know we've said many times
on the show that that it just hasn't gone the
way anybody expected. We're all looking at this Warriors team
like a top eight outfit at the start of twenty
twenty four, not to be What will twenty twenty five
bring well, I guess we'll find out in a few
months time.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks'd be weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Warriors have completed a remarkable comeback to stum the
Sharks in their NRL season finale in Sydney. Trailing twenty
two points to four at halftime, they scored four unanswered
tries to lead twenty six twenty two before Cronulla scored
a converter tried to go ahead twenty eight twenty six,
but with only seconds remaining, the retiring Sewn Johnson.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Did this possibly their last checks Hagen, the Walker, Johnson
Czime calenc Rinzi's own script Riddled, produced directed by Sean Johnson.
The movie his last game Winzard for the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah cut out pass to Delan watenis Lesniak who dotted
down in the corner for a hat trick of tries
for him and a thirty twenty eight went for the
Warriors over the Sharks. As well as Sean Johnson. Of course,
Adam Vanua, Blake and Jazz Tavanga also played their final
matches for the club last night. Former Warrior, NRL triple
centurion and now Skysport Rugby League analyst Adam Blair joins
(01:21):
us Adam fairy tarl endings don't always happen, and of
course the Warriors haven't made the eight. But how pleased
were you to see Sean Johnson go out on a
bit of a high last night with a match winning
play with his final action in a Warrior's shirt.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:35):
How great was that for? You know, not only is
the Warriors and the fans by Sean Johnson, And like
you said, not everyone goes on anything. And last weekend,
you know at Mount Go media stated he would have
got there, he didn't get it, but last night he
had his fingerprint over everything. I thought that's sick enough.
Now I'm going to be real honest. I didn't think
they looked likely of winning the game, like you said,
(01:55):
I think it was twenty two four at halftime and
they had to come out and play some footy. But
you know, I thought Sewn Johnson stepped up in the
second half and had his fingerprints have everything right to
the end into the last second, in that long or
the doll and he has saw. I had a bit
of work to do, but a nice train and a
nice way to finish off all those boys that are
leaving as well, do.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
You reckon any part of Sean Johnson wonders if he
should go around again.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
No, no, not at all. You know, I put myself
in Sean's shoes and my tongue when I was about
to finish up. And I think the push off the
last weekend's game that go media dame, and I guess
the build ups have been as a final home game,
and the emotion and all the energy were to use
to try and get through their week. You could see
the smile on his face last and last night's game
(02:39):
from the moment he ran now to the moment he
finished with their kick and missed the goal. That those
are the moments that you just know that yep, you've
made the right decision. And your addies right there, and
I thought he looked like they're through the whole game.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Of course, I mean very similar to yourself. You had
fifteen seasons in the NRL. He's just finished his fourteenth,
so pretty similar. Do you remember, Adam, how you felt
in the in the few days or weeks after your
final game? What back in twenty twenty.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Yeah, well I'm a little bit different. Shawn arm haven't
had like a real I guess colorful career. Like Sean Daddy,
he was an icon hair in New Zealan arm You know,
every single kid, every single kid looked up to the
things that he did. He was magical when he come
on stage on the big stage in twenty eleven. And
I think, you know, my decision was literally last minute.
(03:24):
It was Captain's run, getting the circle, tell the boys
that's done. Hey boys, let's switch over the focus, because
again I wanted to just finish off on a high
and enjoy those moments that I had left of my teammates,
those last moments in the dressing rooms, the last moment
on the field. And yeah, so mine was a little
bit different. But he deserves everything he has. He's been
a legend here in New Zealand for not only international spress,
(03:45):
the key we's, but also had the worries and every kid,
including my kid's love and thinks he's a legend. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Well, barring any remarkable you know, change of mind and
one hundred and eighty degree turn and coming back, let's
just assume he's not coming back. Do you think Tomighty
Martin will get first crack at the seven jersey next season?
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Yeah, I think there's a lot of conversations around in
the halves at the Warrior thing like this year we
would have said, you know, we've got six six different
halves and we've got six too many. And you know,
you get through the year and the injuries are everywhere
and they're trying to find these combinations and not too
many played together throughout the year. They had most really
five or six different changes. And I think Tomati's in
(04:25):
the box seat. I think like most of the boys,
Metcalf and Cluders, you've got to get for a solid
preseason to give yourself some confidence so that you can
go into the season feeling like that position is yours.
It's up to anyone to just grab them. And I
think Chanelle can do a good job. To thinkke Metcalf
can do a good job, and I also think Tomidy
can do a good job. So the balls in their
hands and if they work really hard, they get but
(04:47):
all definitely own that position.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, and you're so rong. I'm just looking at the
lineups that the Warriors have had and it's been, yeah,
a lot of chopping and changing. Around six and seven.
I think Charns nicol Klukstera even had a game in
the six jumper at one stage, how important, Adam, is
it to find to find a combo you like, a
six seven you like and barring and give them a
decent run in those positions.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Well, it's important you see, the best teams and the
competition at this time of the year are playing their
best halves in the right positions and consistency around combinations.
And I guess the most thing is confidence for halves.
They are your main players. They are your go to
that your leaders, They are your guys that get you
in the right position to finish off your sets. So
it's important that you have that consistency around the same
(05:31):
halves all year. If you're chopping in chosing like we've
seen this year, obviously injuries haven't helped as well, you're
going to get kind of similar results to what we have.
But like you said, Chancey step doesn't. There may be
something some thinking around Chance going into that sixth position
next year and someone else going to the Senate. And
I thought, he's a bigger body, he's got some got
some ball playing ability, and you know we're seetain to
(05:51):
open at the back last night. I think he's he's
an n RL starter without a doubt, but does he
hang around? Does does is it off by someone else?
So there's options there for the worries, but they need
to play the people in the right positions.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
For me, Yeah, you know you've rippened my mind on
Tane in to a bicky. I thought he was terrific
last night. It's only had six games this season. Same
with Ali Leah Dawa as well, only the six games
of Hermie was good last night too. Can you see
those two playing a more significant role next year?
Speaker 4 (06:19):
Oh well, I put Tane in the similar position to
Challenge when Charms was first trying to come through the
Warriors pathways with Roger blocking him from getting a position
at starting at the fullback. So I feel like if
if they're not going to play or play Tane to Opiki,
I think he finds himself at another club because I
think he's a fast up start at any team if
they're looking for a fallback, he's got their different mold
(06:40):
or fallback, a lot smaller lot, quicker lot, more agile
on their feet, similar to Kanu Kenny. So yeah, Ali,
the good thing about the Warriors and the future looks
for it. They've seen we've seen them be able to
bleed some of these young forwards through. Obviously you're losing
Adam Fana Blake, but he also got a Rocco Berry
has been sitting on the side. I think they're the future.
These young guys that have come through the pathways are
(07:02):
the future. Consistency with them getting time on the fielders
is important. So preseason that's where it all start with him.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Where do you reckon? We'll see Roger Tivivaskischek playing most
off the next season.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
I'm gonna say, Wing, that's just me having a stab.
I just don't think he's He's like, he's a fallback
without a doubt. But you know what I mean, like
you've got chance, you've got time to pick in the
game's changing real quick. You've seen someone like hink Gufflerson.
I think the game's starting to move past the older
guys with obviously these young guys coming through with the
faster feat the more athletic, you know what I mean,
(07:34):
You're not gonna you're gonna lose most of the leadership
of what and the quality of what they bring. But
he got these kids that just come into the game
and just play some football. So I think they find
himself on the on the wing again, You've got some
other wingers there as well, so some challenging times for
the Warriors and some I guess you've got an off
season to try and plan and see what there looks like.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
We know edon Fanola Blake's off to the Sharks. Do
we know where Jase Tavun is going?
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Not at the moment. I think, you know, someone like
Jazz could fit into any club. I like, I've got
a podcast I mentioned him going to the Bulldogs. I
think he fits into that, that mental that they have
that just keeps tuning up and keep working. He's obviously
got a good relationship with Todd Payton at the Cowboys
that could end up going over there. And then maybe
Benji Marshall might offer him a lifeline at at the Tigers.
So these are just my thoughts. And might have Finanza
(08:18):
and I think he could add value to all three clubs,
all right.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
And just I was watching that game last night, the
second half of particular, Adam, I'm sure you were as well,
and I was thinking to myself, Man, wouldn't it be
great if they were like this here every week? And
I'm sure that's the you know, that's the golden ticket
that every team's after. But why do you think it
was so hard for the Warriors to find consistency this year?
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Definitely the ins and out of swapping positions and people
not playing in the right position, to injuries. I think
he might have heard if you watched that right to
the end of Sean Johnson's interviews. He managed to get
three consecutive games, and I don't think he's had that
all year. So when when your spine can get some
games together, they start getting a bit of a feel
for the game and they see things because this is
(08:59):
what they do. They get their flow on. And that's
what Sewan said. He felt like he was in his
own last night. So when he set up that last play,
it was like at a seat Quin's play that they've trained,
they've seen it. But this was the third week in
the raid that he's managed to get on the field
and it just all seemed to come to get at
the right time push on last night. So you know,
they've got to get they've got to get consistency about
just making sure that they've got time on the field
(09:20):
and connection together. It's important spines. Spines are the big
part of your team, and it may be an offseason
where they hang out together. Maybe it's simple as having
a coffee and having a chat, you know, and building
those relationships, seeing those connections and being tight as a group.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
That's how that happens. Are we heited for a Storm
Panthers Grand Final? Do you think?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (09:39):
You know, I think Nathan Clear is a big part
of that pen of Panthers and I'm guessing he's going
to be back in the in the fold the next
coming weeks and it's important that they get in there.
I definitely think the Storm are going to be there.
Maybe two weeks ago I said storm pen of Panthers
in the Grand Final, it's all over. But I've late
seen someone like the Roosters come into contention. Don't know
about their defense. I know they can score a lot
(10:00):
of times and they play a lot of football, but
you know, when it comes down to the Grand finals
or winning games in this in this next of the competition,
it's defense that win's premierships. And I think, yeah, I
think both teams know how to play these big moments
and they could be those two good stuff.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Well, it's great chatting to you, Adam. I hope You've
had a great father's day, mate. Thanks for taking the time.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Thank you well. I appreciate it all the best.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Adam Blair joining us to talk Warriors there. Yeah, I
think the you know, the the unpacking of the Warriors
season will happen over the next little while. The season
reviews will take place, and yeah, let's hope that that
lessons are learned. I think, you know, they always are,
aren't they. I think back to this time last year
and we were looking forward to the Warriors and their
finals run. We don't have that to look forward to
(10:42):
this year obviously, and you know we've said many times
on the show that that it just hasn't gone the
way anybody expected. We're all looking at this Warriors team
like a top eight outfit at the start of twenty
twenty four, not to be What will twenty twenty five
bring well, I guess we'll find out in a few
months time.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks'd be weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
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