‘He wouldn’t have played’: Coach comment raises Shaun Johnson questions

Shaun Johnson’s calf is set to become the most watched muscle in Australia and New Zealand over the next week after his coach’s telling comments.

No one wants to see this man on the sidelines. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

The New Zealand Warriors may have been no match for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL qualifying final, but the side’s 2023 season is far from over.

Despite a crushing 32-6 loss to the two-time defending champions, the Warriors will host their first home final since 2008 next week against either the Newcastle Knights or Canberra Raiders.

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Although no match for a rampant Panthers and one of the great games of halfback Nathan Cleary’s career, the Warriors were starved of ball and will be hoping to bounce back in front of their home fans.

But the question remains — will Shaun Johnson be there?

The Warriors revealed on Thursday when arriving in Australia that their superstar halfback wouldn’t be playing due to a calf injury.

Post-match, Warriors coach Andrew Webster said he was “definitely confident” Johnson would be fit for next week.

The Dally M favourite injured his calf at training during the week and was officially ruled out on Thursday, with the Warriors unable to conjure anything in attack without the man who leads the league for assists this season.

Then again, Webster admitted: “We’d love to have him out there but that’s not the reason (we lost).”

But before the game Webster said on Channel 9 that Johnson wouldn’t have played even if it was an elimination game.

“No, he wouldn’t have. No. He wouldn’t have played,” Webster said to Brad Fittler.

“It is one of those injuries, probably a week difference. Shaun certainly wasn’t wanting to rest, it was just the cards we were dealt and got to move on fast.”

Get ready for ‘Calf Watch 2023’. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

Shaun Johnson has been immense for the Warriors in 2023. Picture: NRL Photos

But even though the injury is said to be a minor one, Johnson revealed he is “touch and go” for next week’s game.

At 33 years of age, Johnson is not a young man in rugby league terms and calf injuries appear to linger the older players get.

Johnson told Fox Sports before the game that the injury occurred while he was at training and he “felt a bit of a shock go through it”.

“Went and got a scan and got the results from that and it was always going to be a race against the clock. A couple of runs I had to see where I was at didn’t go as planned,” he added.

“Frustrating bro, really frustrating but the right decision has been made.”

When asked if he’d be a certain starter for the second week of the finals, Johnson said: “I hope so, it is day by day, I’m not going to say I’ll be right to go. Day by day but we’re planning on taking the week off and that would be a massive help.”

That doesn’t sound too great.

Neither does Webster confirming he’d likely stick with the halves pairing of Dylan Walker and Te Maire Martin if Johnson is unable to play next week.

One thing’s for certain though — the eyes of two nations on one calf for the next week.

With Martin Gabor, NCA Newswire

Originally published as ‘He wouldn’t have played’: Coach comment raises Shaun Johnson questions