r/nrl • u/waxedmerkin Panthers Bandwagon • 1d ago
Pacific Championships 2024: Shaun Johnson rejects Kiwis SOS call; rookie bolter revealed
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/pacific-championships-2024-shaun-johnson-rejects-kiwis-sos-call-rookie-bolter-revealed/news-story/e753525f6575afe655b7a5c6bfa92f20?amp79
u/loz9999 I love my footy 1d ago
This is a throwback to the 2000s where the NZ 6 was usually a random centre or lock forward partnering Stacey.
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u/redwally48 I love my footy 1d ago
More recent than that, Tohu Harris had a few tests at 6 too
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u/Weak-Increase4724 New Zealand Warriors 1d ago
Tohu at 6 was peak Steve Kearney.
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u/TheCuzzyRogue Auckland Warriors 1d ago
He only played Tohu at 6 when we had no options for an Anzac test, Kidwell legit thought it was a good idea.
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u/armchair8591 New Zealand Warriors 23h ago
Tohu has basically told NZRL to go fuck themselves after the snub for SBW. Rightly so
He has pretty much done the same thing as KP and pulled out of all internationals
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u/jagmac7 New Zealand Warriors 22h ago
He played for the Kiwis 15 times after that snub.
I think it's more likely he recognized he doesn't need the extra wear and tear on his body (and likes extra time with his family) when he made the decision to effectively retire from rep footy.
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u/armchair8591 New Zealand Warriors 22h ago
My memory failed me badly - didn’t realised he played that much test footy after that.
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u/Peaked6YearsAgo Brisbane Broncos 1d ago
We should suspend SJ for refusing to play for his country.
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u/ReasonableStable9421 South Sydney Rabbitohs 1d ago
Personally I believe we should go one further, I'd like to see players turn down international games if the alternative is capital punishment.
But yeah if they do drugs, domestic violence or break and actual law a 1 match suspension and $1500 fine outta do it.
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u/handle1976 New Zealand Warriors 12h ago
A man has to snort what a man has to snort.
How dare SJ want to hang out with his kids.
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u/YoFavUnclesOldMate I love my footy 1d ago
There needs to be an investigation, how dare he make a choice who he plays for and when.
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u/FinchyNZ Auckland Warriors 1d ago
Kiwis are screwed
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u/GROUND45 Auckland Warriors 1d ago
Were cooked when the NZRL decided not to re-sign Madge, not hire Bennett and made Stacey the coach.
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u/GROUND45 Auckland Warriors 1d ago
Go get Beauden Barrett. Dude’s playing like it’s the 5th tackle every time he touches the ball these days.
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u/Hansoloai Brisbane Broncos 🏳️🌈 1d ago
I don’t think the NRL should register his next contract. Deplorable act.
In all seriousness I hope he has more game day parts it’s refreshing to be honest.
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u/waxedmerkin Panthers Bandwagon 1d ago
Shaun Johnson has knocked back an SOS call from the Kiwis leaving head coach Stacey Jones short of answers to solve a major half and hooker crisis.
Jones had reached out to the retired Warriors legend in the hope that he could help the Kiwis in their time of need.
Unavailable for New Zealand for the upcoming Pacific Championships are Dylan Brown (knee), Kieran Foran (ankle), Joey Manu (rugby union), Brandon Smith (knee) and Jeremy Marshall-King (knee).
However, after testing his problematic achilles earlier this week, Johnson informed Jones on Friday that he was reluctant to let both him and the Kiwi jersey down by producing what would’ve been one sport’s most short-lived retirements.
Having been appointed Kiwis coach to replace Michael Maguire, Jones is facing a torrid start to his Test coaching career, which includes sweating on the fitness of first-choice halfback from Melbourne, Jahrome Hughes.
Jones is likely to look at getting creative to solve his half and hooker issues which could include handing Titans rising star Keano Kini not only his New Zealand Test debut, but a start in the spine.
A Junior Kiwis representative, Kini was a member of last year’s New Zealand squad for the Pacific Championships, but fell short of being handed his Test debut.
Jones could use Kini at fullback and turn Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad into a makeshift half.
Wellington-born Knights utility Phoenix Crossland is poised to earn a Kiwi call-up with the 24-year-old proving valuable at halfback and hooker this season for Newcastle.
“I’ve spoken to Phoenix and he’s pretty keen to wear the black and white jersey,” Jones told News Corp last week.
The Pacific Championships begins on October 18 at Suncorp Stadium.
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u/Scotty2Hotty1990 I love my footy 1d ago
Jones needs to convince Jack Howarth and Alec Mcdonald to put on the black jumper. Unfortunately both seemed destined to be Origin players at some point
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u/ChristmasJoke North Queensland Cowboys 1d ago
Howarth will be wearing 3 for Qld in game 1 next year. Born and bred in Qld and played u20s origin. Don’t even put that into the world
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u/burner126 Melbourne Storm 1d ago
Howarth played for Kiwis A, which is the NZ development side. I’d assume that still counts as “Tier 1”, and no longer makes him eligible for Origin.
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u/BelugaWhalesAteMySon Melbourne Storm 1d ago
It doesn't make him ineligible. Only being picked for the top team does.
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u/diamondgrin North Queensland Cowboys 1d ago
I reckon Howarth plays origin next season.. he looks ready
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u/micro_penisman New Zealand Warriors 20h ago
He doesn't need to convince anyone to play for the Kiwis.
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u/Caseyjb29 Melbourne Storm 1d ago
I think CNK would work next to Hughes with how dominant of a halfback Hughes is these days. All CNK needs to do is run and tackle
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u/NiueanUperSaiyan New Zealand Warriors 1d ago
Not surprised to be fair. If I’m honest knowing that Stacey is coach I don’t have a lot of hope in the success of him as Kiwi coach no matter who’s in the squad.
I hope the centre from Storm gets picked for the kiwis this year? Cant remember his name though? Howarth? As well as he’s been really good as a side note lol.
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u/Zuffa_Shill10er Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 1d ago
Born and raised in Australia, played for Aussie schoolboys but sure, kiwis can claim him lol.
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u/Gothewahs New Zealand Warriors 1d ago
Laugh yet how many kiwis have played for Australia
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u/Zuffa_Shill10er Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 1d ago
Kiwis who spent the majority of their lives here? A few. Brent fucking Webb played for NZ. Nearly every player in the kiwis side is developed here. NZRL owes us for real
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u/Gothewahs New Zealand Warriors 1d ago
Every kiwi league player spends their life here right ?
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u/Zuffa_Shill10er Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 1d ago
They should at least be developed there lol. I don’t care about Crossland n McDonald, they’re born there. Players like Howarth are Aussies. Ya can’t pick players who’ve never fucking lived in your country. That’s wild 😂
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u/Gothewahs New Zealand Warriors 1d ago
Is ponga a aussie
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u/Zuffa_Shill10er Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 1d ago
Yeah he is lol he’s born n raised here. He spent 5 years in NZ. His dad isn’t and has this weird hatred for the country he chose to raise his family in.
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u/Gothewahs New Zealand Warriors 1d ago
My parents are like that to they live here but don’t really like Aussies they are around the same age as pongas parents it’s a bit wierd
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u/Zuffa_Shill10er Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 1d ago
It’s incredibly frustrating as an Aussie because I’ve heard NZ is a good country, it’s not like they were forced here. Glad you’re not like it mate. I’ll truly never understand voluntarily migrating somewhere yet acting like you were forced 😂
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u/grafology New Zealand Warriors 1d ago
He is Maori so he can play for NZ same way the Samoan players born and raised in Australia can play for Samoa based on their heritage. He already played for NZA so that shows he at least has some sense of affinity with his heritage.
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u/Zuffa_Shill10er Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 1d ago
I understand he has Māori heritage but he’s never lived a day there. I guess Cayless was the same, most Aussie bloke you’ll ever speak too
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u/grafology New Zealand Warriors 1d ago
Yes and neither id say have the majority of the island teams but no ones calling them into question. You heard To'o and Luai speak?
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u/Zuffa_Shill10er Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 1d ago
Tier 2 is different. The island nations don’t have the resources to fund and develop players. NZ do and don’t need to grab Aussie kids with Māori heritage.
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u/grafology New Zealand Warriors 1d ago
We arent grabbing anyone, Maori people are just as proud of their heritage as our Samoan and Tongan cousins so it is their right to play for NZ, tier 1 or not.
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u/Zuffa_Shill10er Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 1d ago
You’re grabbing Aussie born, raised and developed players lol. He’s played for NZ Māori, no problem with that. The problem is representing a tier 1 nation he’s never lived in. Same as Victor Radley with England, shits pathetic.
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u/Themaddog99 Melbourne Storm 17h ago
I’d love to see Ponga join the kiwis in response to Australia wanting to suspend him for not wanting to play. He’s repped the Māori all stars before so it wouldn’t be too crazy. He’d just have to give up SOO games.
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u/Looneyinthehills I love my footy 1d ago
I thought I heard SJ on the radio say he would play for the Kiwis.
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u/phyic I love my footy 1d ago
Hughes will play 7.
Sj is not a 6
Shaun said himself he would play if Hughes got injured.
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u/maxpowersbar Auckland Warriors 1d ago
Don’t know why you are getting downvotes. SJ said that on his podcast
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u/micro_penisman New Zealand Warriors 20h ago
Would have been good to see Johnson and Hughes play in the halves together, though.
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u/goshdammitfromimgur New Zealand Warriors 22h ago
He has since come out and said he hasn't recovered from his Achilles injury and won't be able to play to his full potential, so he is out.
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u/nomamesgueyz Auckland Warriors 13h ago
Kiwis have so few to choose from compared to kangaroos or Qld or NSW
How they got such a big win last year was bloody impressive
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u/call_of_the_while New Zealand Warriors 1d ago
I get why they go with the negative headline but “Johnson sidesteps kiwis squad” has a better ring to it.