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Warriors need 'huge overhaul' that includes cutting Johnson says former NRL great

By AAP
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Shaun Johnson’s place in the Warriors’ overhaul has been questioned by Mick Ennis, who fears emerging New Zealand talents no longer aspire to play for their NRL club.

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The Warriors coughed up a 12-0 lead to lose 38-16 to Cronulla in Redcliffe on Sunday night in Stacey Jones’ first match at the helm after coach Nathan Brown’s abrupt exit.

At 4-10 and now three games outside the top eight, the currently Queensland-based club is treading water until games in Auckland later this season.

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They’ll move back for good next year, at which time 274-game veteran Ennis says they must “put their club back on the map”.

“The Warriors need a huge overhaul,” he told Fox Sports.

“This (coaching change) is a chance for their club to reset.

“Finals in 2018, they’ve missed nine out of the last 10 finals. They’ve been consistent at being unsuccessful.

“They need someone like Craig Bellamy to completely change the fabric of their identity.

“The were once a feared side because of their power, unpredictability and their athleticism … they aren’t that any more.

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“I’m not sure young kids in New Zealand aspire to play in this team.

“The ones that are passionate (about rugby league), ask their managers, ‘Can I go to the Storm, Parramatta, the Roosters?'”

Playmaker Johnson has returned on a two-year deal to finish his career where it began in 2011.

But, with his growing family across the Tasman, he’s battled poor form and is under increasing pressure.

“I don’t know if they’re a better footy side (with him),” Ennis said.

“He hasn’t been anywhere near the Johnson we grew to love at the Warriors a long time ago, and that’s part of the reset.”

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Interim coach and club great Jones admitted the halfback was battling.

“Being away from his family has put a bit of pressure on him to bounce into training and perform,” he said.

“He’s the first one to put his hand up but he’s not The Lone Ranger.”

The stand-in coach said he was “very nervous and a little bit scattered upstairs” when he first took the reins.

“Then I got excited,” he said.

“It’s not nice what happened to Browny, but I love this club and I’ll do my best.

“I just want to win some footy games and if we do that we’ll have fun doing it.”

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Bull Shark 49 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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