August 19, 2024 • 8 mins
Warriors Assistant Coach Slade Griffin joins Craig Cumming to chat the renaming of Go Media Stadium in honour of Shaun Johnson and the team's end of season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yep. This weekend, we've got a farewell really when it
comes to from this side of the testmen. Anyway, the
Warriors legend Shawn Johnson's going to be fairwell. They're going
to rename the stadium the Shawn Johnson Stadium. Joining us
now to talk about that, but also the match up.
Slade Griffin, the assistant coach, Good morning, Slave, how are
you well man?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah, I'm good. Thank you thanks having me.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
No, no, thank you for getting up nice and early
and being on with us. An emotional week this week, Slave,
for Sewan Johnson and also for the Warriors club with
him saying goodbye to his home fans. I suppose how's
the week penning out and how's everyone's emotions?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah? Ah, look, Seawan's Shawn's been huge for not only
a club but New Zealand Rugby League. He's inspired a generation.
You know, not many players you can say I remember
that game eight years ago against the Broncos when he
scored that try. So yeah, he's done some amazing things
on the field and he's been a pleasure off the
(00:56):
field as well. So yeah, it's going to be a
big week for us and obviously I'm sure the club
will do a really good job honoring Sean this week,
and I know he's very excited. He's spoken quite openly
about what it means to him to play it Mount
Smart over his career, so yeah, I'm sure he'll be
I'm really excited to get out there one more time.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
And also, what's been special for you guys. I know
it hasn't been the season that you've been after a slave,
but the support you've got at home, I mean, sellouts
every weekend. It must be something that you are proud
of because it means that you are doing some very
very good things.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, it's been amazing support on the road, on the airplane, like, yeah,
wherever we go, you know, you see the Warriors' shirts
out and proud. So we've actually had a pretty good
record at home as well. It's our away record that's
really hurt us this year, So that just shows the
support has played a huge role for us this year,
even though it has been a disappointing year. And the
(01:52):
boys have really turned up at home. So yeah, like
it's just an amazing atmosphere, sold out, but how they
get into the game, they really lost the boys, they
get the chums bummy beating and yeah, it's just it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, if we just go back to Sean Johnson, I
mean I interested in your thoughts later. I mean the game,
everything's evolving really quickly in sport, and you know we're
coming very structured, you know, especially from a younger age. Sean,
I mean, he grew up playing touch rugby. You know,
he had those fancy feet, the quick hit step. Are
we going to see a player like Sean come through
our systems now because we are so structured?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I'm sure, you know, like you said, touches big in
New Zealand and I tried to say, we'll get another
Sean Johnson, but you know, fingers crossed, we can find
a similar player that maybe looked up to sew when
he was younger. Definitely throughout their age groups they get
coached to be a bit more structured. You know. I
guess that's just a personal one. We've got a few
(02:51):
kids there. But yeah, I think what Sean does is
just genetically He's like a pretty freakish athlete. So how
talented he is with the ball and what he can
do it for his kicking game is pretty special.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Yeah. I mean other areas that have certainly evolved, and
I'm thinking, I mean, when you have that expecting I
go back to Benji Marshall as well, is this still
room for a player like that coming through in the
game because of the way it's played debt.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I think it is. I think you have to the
game management side of it getting your team around the park.
But the game is getting faster and there's more space.
That's why you know, you're saying even fallbacks to the
sense like just a lot more room for them, but
definitely the way the game is getting split up, the
more opportunities for the have definitely creating more room for
(03:38):
them to use their feed and take on those sackeboards.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Yeah, and I understand that, Like you're probably one of
the areas for Shan over his career he struggled, but
it's been very good in the last two years with
the Warriors. Has actually been the defense. But you can't
afford now so to not be able to be strong
in the defensive line. Can you just get found out?
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yeah, teams are just too smart with the video and
the way they hit around the park and the way
they can kind of game plan to expose that chink
in the line. So yeah, you need to be a
good defender, otherwise I would just kind of crutify you.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, another way, heartbreaker last weekend against Many. I was
watching and in that second half there was about ten
minutes where I felt like it was the Warriors of
just about last year's things split up on the front
foot and you're playing, you know, look like you're really dominant.
It was unfortunately because you had the momentum and then
all of a sudden Many just were able to stop
it by scoring. But it just showed there when when
things clack had dangerous the sighters.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Yeah, probably a story about season a little bit inconsistent.
When we're playing well, we're really well, but we just
have periods. So yeah, it's been a tough year. Obviously
started quite well and then you know we diden quite
get the results and we probably lost a bit of
confidence and then had a few injuries and yeah, it
just kind of it was hard to really to call
(04:53):
it back. But yeah, I've been able to.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Wake out why that? Have you been? I know it's
the gold question and if you if you've been able
to sort it out, you'll be in the top eight.
But you know, have you been able to work out
why those things happen.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
There's probably just inconsistency. So it's been different. Sometimes it's
been our tackling, sometimes it's been just our execution. So yeah,
there's that's probably the hardest part. It's been something kind
of different each week, which which isn't great, but yeah,
we just haven't had a lot of continuity on the
park this year with guys being in and out, chain
psitions and combinations, so it's just been hard to get
(05:30):
that continuity.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Yeah, big challenge too though the Bulldogs, who people are
now starting to talk about being Premiership contenders. What do
you need to do well? I mean, it's going to
have the emotion, You're going to have the support because
of Seawan Johnson. But the Bulldogs aren't going to worry
about that, are they.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
No, of course. I like, if anything, they'll use it
to get them up. You got to as other teams motivation,
so we're always We've add some really tough games against them, actually,
and I think they are I think they are real smoky.
I think they're defending really well. They move the ball
with good width, they got some real strike on edges
and just their defensive line speed. How hard they work
(06:09):
to the tackle. They're already fit team, so you know
it's going to be a real grind like the game
was last time. I think we had a ten minute
arm wrestle against them, which was the longest and over
every game this season. So yeah, we're going to have
to play a long game against them. Kept the corners
be willing to just have to earn everything. Then we
(06:30):
get our opportunities. We're going to have to be pretty
clinical because they are such a strong defensive team.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yeah, they are just quickly. I mean we always talk
about sport evolving. Have you seen any new trends happening
this year in the NRL, whether it be defensively or
in the attack that we need to how to implement
coming into next year.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Oh, just it's break. The league is a pretty simple game.
It's going to be fit, willing to work hard. Defend well.
I think the Bulldogs are actually kind of showing the
game plan. You know, they move around the field very
old offensively, and they defend their goal line really well.
That's a huge thing at the moment. And then obviously,
(07:07):
like we said about the harviously, when you get to
create a little bit of rock speed, you get your
opportunities and it's about you taking them and being willing
to charge.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
You absolutely well. I appreciate you joining us this morning,
Slade and getting up and being on the show. Thank
you very much for doing that and wish you all
the very best and what's going to be a special
time this weekend.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Thanks for your time this morning, Thanks for having me.
There we go.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Slave Griffin, the assistant coach for the Worries. Yeah, it's
been a tough year for them. Has a lot of
close losses again last weekend and it's one of those
ones that a lot of onlies. But I think I
heard Andrew webs have say you'd rather learn a lot
from winning than learn from losing, and unfortunately this year
they've had more losses and as Slade just mentioned that,
the away record hasn't been great, but their home record
(07:50):
has been very good and no surprise when you've got
such a great fan base who turn up. I still
think they're the best at doing it, the best at
promoting it, and that's showing by the people that they
get in the gate
Yep. This weekend, we've got a farewell really when it
comes to from this side of the testmen. Anyway, the
Warriors legend Shawn Johnson's going to be fairwell. They're going
to rename the stadium the Shawn Johnson Stadium. Joining us
now to talk about that, but also the match up.
Slade Griffin, the assistant coach, Good morning, Slave, how are
you well man?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah, I'm good. Thank you thanks having me.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
No, no, thank you for getting up nice and early
and being on with us. An emotional week this week, Slave,
for Sewan Johnson and also for the Warriors club with
him saying goodbye to his home fans. I suppose how's
the week penning out and how's everyone's emotions?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah? Ah, look, Seawan's Shawn's been huge for not only
a club but New Zealand Rugby League. He's inspired a generation.
You know, not many players you can say I remember
that game eight years ago against the Broncos when he
scored that try. So yeah, he's done some amazing things
on the field and he's been a pleasure off the
(00:56):
field as well. So yeah, it's going to be a
big week for us and obviously I'm sure the club
will do a really good job honoring Sean this week,
and I know he's very excited. He's spoken quite openly
about what it means to him to play it Mount
Smart over his career, so yeah, I'm sure he'll be
I'm really excited to get out there one more time.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
And also, what's been special for you guys. I know
it hasn't been the season that you've been after a slave,
but the support you've got at home, I mean, sellouts
every weekend. It must be something that you are proud
of because it means that you are doing some very
very good things.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, it's been amazing support on the road, on the airplane, like, yeah,
wherever we go, you know, you see the Warriors' shirts
out and proud. So we've actually had a pretty good
record at home as well. It's our away record that's
really hurt us this year, So that just shows the
support has played a huge role for us this year,
even though it has been a disappointing year. And the
(01:52):
boys have really turned up at home. So yeah, like
it's just an amazing atmosphere, sold out, but how they
get into the game, they really lost the boys, they
get the chums bummy beating and yeah, it's just it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, if we just go back to Sean Johnson, I
mean I interested in your thoughts later. I mean the game,
everything's evolving really quickly in sport, and you know we're
coming very structured, you know, especially from a younger age. Sean,
I mean, he grew up playing touch rugby. You know,
he had those fancy feet, the quick hit step. Are
we going to see a player like Sean come through
our systems now because we are so structured?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I'm sure, you know, like you said, touches big in
New Zealand and I tried to say, we'll get another
Sean Johnson, but you know, fingers crossed, we can find
a similar player that maybe looked up to sew when
he was younger. Definitely throughout their age groups they get
coached to be a bit more structured. You know. I
guess that's just a personal one. We've got a few
(02:51):
kids there. But yeah, I think what Sean does is
just genetically He's like a pretty freakish athlete. So how
talented he is with the ball and what he can
do it for his kicking game is pretty special.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Yeah. I mean other areas that have certainly evolved, and
I'm thinking, I mean, when you have that expecting I
go back to Benji Marshall as well, is this still
room for a player like that coming through in the
game because of the way it's played debt.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I think it is. I think you have to the
game management side of it getting your team around the park.
But the game is getting faster and there's more space.
That's why you know, you're saying even fallbacks to the
sense like just a lot more room for them, but
definitely the way the game is getting split up, the
more opportunities for the have definitely creating more room for
(03:38):
them to use their feed and take on those sackeboards.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Yeah, and I understand that, Like you're probably one of
the areas for Shan over his career he struggled, but
it's been very good in the last two years with
the Warriors. Has actually been the defense. But you can't
afford now so to not be able to be strong
in the defensive line. Can you just get found out?
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yeah, teams are just too smart with the video and
the way they hit around the park and the way
they can kind of game plan to expose that chink
in the line. So yeah, you need to be a
good defender, otherwise I would just kind of crutify you.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, another way, heartbreaker last weekend against Many. I was
watching and in that second half there was about ten
minutes where I felt like it was the Warriors of
just about last year's things split up on the front
foot and you're playing, you know, look like you're really dominant.
It was unfortunately because you had the momentum and then
all of a sudden Many just were able to stop
it by scoring. But it just showed there when when
things clack had dangerous the sighters.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Yeah, probably a story about season a little bit inconsistent.
When we're playing well, we're really well, but we just
have periods. So yeah, it's been a tough year. Obviously
started quite well and then you know we diden quite
get the results and we probably lost a bit of
confidence and then had a few injuries and yeah, it
just kind of it was hard to really to call
(04:53):
it back. But yeah, I've been able to.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Wake out why that? Have you been? I know it's
the gold question and if you if you've been able
to sort it out, you'll be in the top eight.
But you know, have you been able to work out
why those things happen.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
There's probably just inconsistency. So it's been different. Sometimes it's
been our tackling, sometimes it's been just our execution. So yeah,
there's that's probably the hardest part. It's been something kind
of different each week, which which isn't great, but yeah,
we just haven't had a lot of continuity on the
park this year with guys being in and out, chain
psitions and combinations, so it's just been hard to get
(05:30):
that continuity.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Yeah, big challenge too though the Bulldogs, who people are
now starting to talk about being Premiership contenders. What do
you need to do well? I mean, it's going to
have the emotion, You're going to have the support because
of Seawan Johnson. But the Bulldogs aren't going to worry
about that, are they.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
No, of course. I like, if anything, they'll use it
to get them up. You got to as other teams motivation,
so we're always We've add some really tough games against them, actually,
and I think they are I think they are real smoky.
I think they're defending really well. They move the ball
with good width, they got some real strike on edges
and just their defensive line speed. How hard they work
(06:09):
to the tackle. They're already fit team, so you know
it's going to be a real grind like the game
was last time. I think we had a ten minute
arm wrestle against them, which was the longest and over
every game this season. So yeah, we're going to have
to play a long game against them. Kept the corners
be willing to just have to earn everything. Then we
(06:30):
get our opportunities. We're going to have to be pretty
clinical because they are such a strong defensive team.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yeah, they are just quickly. I mean we always talk
about sport evolving. Have you seen any new trends happening
this year in the NRL, whether it be defensively or
in the attack that we need to how to implement
coming into next year.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Oh, just it's break. The league is a pretty simple game.
It's going to be fit, willing to work hard. Defend well.
I think the Bulldogs are actually kind of showing the
game plan. You know, they move around the field very
old offensively, and they defend their goal line really well.
That's a huge thing at the moment. And then obviously,
(07:07):
like we said about the harviously, when you get to
create a little bit of rock speed, you get your
opportunities and it's about you taking them and being willing
to charge.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
You absolutely well. I appreciate you joining us this morning,
Slade and getting up and being on the show. Thank
you very much for doing that and wish you all
the very best and what's going to be a special
time this weekend.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Thanks for your time this morning, Thanks for having me.
There we go.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Slave Griffin, the assistant coach for the Worries. Yeah, it's
been a tough year for them. Has a lot of
close losses again last weekend and it's one of those
ones that a lot of onlies. But I think I
heard Andrew webs have say you'd rather learn a lot
from winning than learn from losing, and unfortunately this year
they've had more losses and as Slade just mentioned that,
the away record hasn't been great, but their home record
(07:50):
has been very good and no surprise when you've got
such a great fan base who turn up. I still
think they're the best at doing it, the best at
promoting it, and that's showing by the people that they
get in the gate
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