1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:13,147 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB is. 3 00:00:13,147 --> 00:00:16,627 Speaker 2: About to come down on one of the great NRL careers, 4 00:00:16,747 --> 00:00:20,427 Speaker 2: Sewn Johnson. Two hundred and sixty seven games with one 5 00:00:20,467 --> 00:00:23,747 Speaker 2: to go across fourteen NRL seasons, all but three of 6 00:00:23,787 --> 00:00:25,267 Speaker 2: those years with the Warriors, and. 7 00:00:25,587 --> 00:00:31,227 Speaker 3: Johnson steps straight through support on the inside decides against 8 00:00:31,627 --> 00:00:33,627 Speaker 3: Chris Johnson got the leaves. 9 00:00:34,107 --> 00:00:34,747 Speaker 1: He's sad. 10 00:00:34,867 --> 00:00:35,547 Speaker 3: Leaders. 11 00:00:37,227 --> 00:00:40,507 Speaker 2: Michael luck came into the Warriors in two thousand and 12 00:00:40,587 --> 00:00:43,107 Speaker 2: six after five seasons with the Cowboys. He became a 13 00:00:43,147 --> 00:00:46,667 Speaker 2: cult heero, absolute fan favourite, playing one hundred and fifty 14 00:00:46,707 --> 00:00:49,107 Speaker 2: games across seven years at the club, the last two 15 00:00:49,147 --> 00:00:52,587 Speaker 2: of those seasons alongside Sewn Johnson, including of course that 16 00:00:52,787 --> 00:00:56,267 Speaker 2: memorable run to the twenty eleven NRL Grand Final. 17 00:00:56,467 --> 00:00:57,867 Speaker 3: Gets the past to Johnson. 18 00:00:58,147 --> 00:01:05,707 Speaker 2: Johnson's still going doubs adness God one of the most 19 00:01:05,747 --> 00:01:11,067 Speaker 2: famous Warrior tries that Melbourne storm ahead of the twenty 20 00:01:11,107 --> 00:01:13,427 Speaker 2: eleven NRL Grand Final. That was the game that got 21 00:01:13,467 --> 00:01:15,667 Speaker 2: the Warriors into the Grand Final. Michael Luk is now 22 00:01:15,787 --> 00:01:18,827 Speaker 2: general manager of football at the North Queensland Cowboys, but 23 00:01:18,867 --> 00:01:20,427 Speaker 2: he joins US now to reminiss a bit about his 24 00:01:20,467 --> 00:01:23,627 Speaker 2: time at the Warriors. Michael, thanks for joining us across 25 00:01:23,627 --> 00:01:26,307 Speaker 2: New Zealand. Can you remember the first time Sean Johnson 26 00:01:26,347 --> 00:01:27,347 Speaker 2: turned up at the Warriors? 27 00:01:29,187 --> 00:01:33,187 Speaker 3: Yeah? Thanks, I don't remember the first time. I remember 28 00:01:33,347 --> 00:01:36,587 Speaker 3: you know, that was the skinny kid from up in 29 00:01:36,627 --> 00:01:38,787 Speaker 3: the high Businus Coast that was a fair touch player. 30 00:01:39,147 --> 00:01:41,387 Speaker 3: We've seen some highlights of what he was doing on 31 00:01:41,427 --> 00:01:44,467 Speaker 3: the touch field and then he came in and played 32 00:01:44,507 --> 00:01:48,467 Speaker 3: under twenties for our Warriors under twenties team who were 33 00:01:48,467 --> 00:01:52,947 Speaker 3: fairly dominant that time. But certainly what he did at 34 00:01:52,947 --> 00:01:55,427 Speaker 3: those lower levels and how good he was on his 35 00:01:55,467 --> 00:01:58,707 Speaker 3: feet and the skill said he had was pretty special. 36 00:01:58,787 --> 00:02:01,587 Speaker 3: So for him to go on now and I've made 37 00:02:01,627 --> 00:02:05,027 Speaker 3: the transition to the contact side of the game and 38 00:02:05,347 --> 00:02:07,707 Speaker 3: do it for so long as a real crowd to him, 39 00:02:07,707 --> 00:02:10,787 Speaker 3: he's been a wonderful ambassador for the Warriors, for New 40 00:02:10,867 --> 00:02:13,747 Speaker 3: Zealand and rugby League and for rugby league in general. 41 00:02:14,267 --> 00:02:15,107 Speaker 3: He's terrific. Sawn. 42 00:02:15,507 --> 00:02:17,827 Speaker 2: Once he got into the Warriors environment, how long did 43 00:02:17,827 --> 00:02:19,947 Speaker 2: it take you to realize that actually this get's going 44 00:02:19,987 --> 00:02:20,467 Speaker 2: to be okay? 45 00:02:21,947 --> 00:02:24,907 Speaker 3: Oh look all be honest. I was a bit skeptical. 46 00:02:25,907 --> 00:02:28,227 Speaker 3: And you know, you see a lot of guys that 47 00:02:28,307 --> 00:02:32,227 Speaker 3: come from touch or from junior competitions that are really 48 00:02:32,267 --> 00:02:33,987 Speaker 3: good on their feet, and then when they come up 49 00:02:34,027 --> 00:02:38,907 Speaker 3: against men, they just don't handle the physicality. And I 50 00:02:38,907 --> 00:02:41,707 Speaker 3: guess it took me a little while to become a believer. 51 00:02:42,147 --> 00:02:45,147 Speaker 3: And the old under twenties comp it was more like 52 00:02:45,147 --> 00:02:47,867 Speaker 3: a touch football game than a rugby league game. At times. 53 00:02:47,867 --> 00:02:50,267 Speaker 3: I felt schools of sort of forty to thirty and 54 00:02:51,467 --> 00:02:54,427 Speaker 3: things like that, and you know, it took me a 55 00:02:54,467 --> 00:02:56,827 Speaker 3: little while, but certainly, you know, by the time he 56 00:02:56,987 --> 00:03:00,947 Speaker 3: debuted in first grade, he ticked all the boxes. And 57 00:03:01,347 --> 00:03:03,867 Speaker 3: what he did in that twenty eleventh season, which is 58 00:03:04,027 --> 00:03:06,627 Speaker 3: a pretty good competition, and we were lucky enough to 59 00:03:06,627 --> 00:03:10,867 Speaker 3: to survive right to the last weekend of the comp. Yeah, 60 00:03:11,147 --> 00:03:12,947 Speaker 3: there was no doubt in my mind after that he 61 00:03:13,107 --> 00:03:14,947 Speaker 3: was always going to go on and have a good career. 62 00:03:15,387 --> 00:03:17,787 Speaker 2: What was he like, Michael around the team in the 63 00:03:17,827 --> 00:03:20,267 Speaker 2: early days as he was starting to find his way 64 00:03:20,627 --> 00:03:21,707 Speaker 2: in first grade. 65 00:03:22,507 --> 00:03:26,347 Speaker 3: So fairly quite you know, I don't remember him being 66 00:03:26,587 --> 00:03:28,827 Speaker 3: overly cocky or you know, he put on a front 67 00:03:29,107 --> 00:03:31,267 Speaker 3: when he first came in, but there's certainly a lot 68 00:03:31,307 --> 00:03:33,587 Speaker 3: he had to learn about about playing rugby league and 69 00:03:33,587 --> 00:03:37,427 Speaker 3: particularly at that level. So I think Ivan was really 70 00:03:37,427 --> 00:03:39,427 Speaker 3: good coach for him his first couple of years. Ivan 71 00:03:39,467 --> 00:03:43,427 Speaker 3: Cleary his first year in first grade, taught him about, 72 00:03:43,627 --> 00:03:45,227 Speaker 3: you know, the big rocks of his game and what 73 00:03:45,307 --> 00:03:47,907 Speaker 3: was important and what you had to get right before 74 00:03:47,947 --> 00:03:49,667 Speaker 3: he go and do the flashy stuff. So I think 75 00:03:49,707 --> 00:03:54,507 Speaker 3: that that really helped Sean. Yeah, but there was a 76 00:03:54,507 --> 00:03:56,827 Speaker 3: bit of bravado behind the scenes, but I know, you know, 77 00:03:56,867 --> 00:04:00,707 Speaker 3: he's always nervous, always wanted to please people, and always 78 00:04:00,707 --> 00:04:02,227 Speaker 3: wanted to do his best when he had to worry 79 00:04:02,267 --> 00:04:02,627 Speaker 3: his jersey. 80 00:04:03,547 --> 00:04:05,307 Speaker 2: Two moments that get talked about a lot from that 81 00:04:05,347 --> 00:04:08,147 Speaker 2: first season the twenty eight and season has long range 82 00:04:08,147 --> 00:04:11,187 Speaker 2: solo try against the Broncos and sitting up Lewis Brown 83 00:04:11,187 --> 00:04:12,947 Speaker 2: in the corner for that late try against the Storm 84 00:04:12,947 --> 00:04:16,507 Speaker 2: and the elimination final. Do you remember those moments vividly? 85 00:04:17,387 --> 00:04:19,987 Speaker 3: Yeah? I do, because I actually threw in the last 86 00:04:20,027 --> 00:04:23,027 Speaker 3: pass and that Broncos I counted. 87 00:04:22,827 --> 00:04:24,107 Speaker 2: As a tryst. 88 00:04:24,147 --> 00:04:30,427 Speaker 3: Absolutely yeah, and then the semi final against the Storm 89 00:04:30,507 --> 00:04:32,787 Speaker 3: was a wonderful night. So yeah, there are there a 90 00:04:32,827 --> 00:04:36,187 Speaker 3: couple of the highlights in that season I think, you know, 91 00:04:36,227 --> 00:04:38,707 Speaker 3: and I watch more careboys team do it now when 92 00:04:38,947 --> 00:04:41,027 Speaker 3: you come up against the young player that there's a 93 00:04:41,027 --> 00:04:43,467 Speaker 3: bit of hype about, but you haven't seen a lot 94 00:04:43,507 --> 00:04:44,947 Speaker 3: of them, there's not a lot of video on them. 95 00:04:45,587 --> 00:04:49,187 Speaker 3: It's hard to prepare for. So yeah, it's not a 96 00:04:49,227 --> 00:04:50,827 Speaker 3: surprise that he came up with a couple of those 97 00:04:50,867 --> 00:04:52,947 Speaker 3: magic plays in that first year just because he was 98 00:04:53,747 --> 00:04:55,907 Speaker 3: you know, his skill set was so huge, and the 99 00:04:56,627 --> 00:04:59,467 Speaker 3: other teams in that time to get to understand what 100 00:04:59,507 --> 00:05:00,827 Speaker 3: they were about to come up against. 101 00:05:01,067 --> 00:05:03,507 Speaker 2: What sort of growth and development have you seen from him, 102 00:05:03,627 --> 00:05:05,707 Speaker 2: you know as his career has gone on and you know, 103 00:05:05,747 --> 00:05:08,107 Speaker 2: in the thirteen fourteen years he's been at the top 104 00:05:08,147 --> 00:05:08,707 Speaker 2: of the NRL. 105 00:05:10,187 --> 00:05:13,267 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, Like I said earlier, I think it was 106 00:05:13,267 --> 00:05:16,107 Speaker 3: always a skeptic that could the flashy stuff he did 107 00:05:16,147 --> 00:05:19,547 Speaker 3: on the touch field and that under twenty level translate 108 00:05:19,827 --> 00:05:23,387 Speaker 3: to NROL level, and when you become a first grade 109 00:05:23,387 --> 00:05:28,187 Speaker 3: half back, on an RL halfback, it becomes I guess, 110 00:05:28,227 --> 00:05:31,227 Speaker 3: more about controlling a game and understanding campo and ebbs 111 00:05:31,267 --> 00:05:33,947 Speaker 3: and flows of games rather than trying to lay on 112 00:05:33,987 --> 00:05:36,867 Speaker 3: a try every time you get the footage. So I'm 113 00:05:36,867 --> 00:05:41,667 Speaker 3: impressed with how he's developed his understanding of the control 114 00:05:41,707 --> 00:05:47,027 Speaker 3: of the game, and yeah, even more broadly within seasons 115 00:05:47,067 --> 00:05:49,907 Speaker 3: about the ebbs and flows of when sometimes you have 116 00:05:49,947 --> 00:05:53,467 Speaker 3: to win ugly, if you're down on down on troops 117 00:05:53,507 --> 00:05:56,267 Speaker 3: so you've got injuries, or some days you just don't 118 00:05:56,267 --> 00:05:58,387 Speaker 3: play well and you just have to get the job done, 119 00:05:59,187 --> 00:06:01,427 Speaker 3: which he's done. And I guess, you know, he did 120 00:06:01,467 --> 00:06:03,467 Speaker 3: really really well last year. And that Worries team that 121 00:06:03,747 --> 00:06:05,867 Speaker 3: went so well in the twenty twenty three season, there 122 00:06:05,947 --> 00:06:08,907 Speaker 3: was some there where I was watching him, I thought 123 00:06:08,947 --> 00:06:12,827 Speaker 3: they're gone today. They look lethargic and they haven't got energy, 124 00:06:12,827 --> 00:06:15,267 Speaker 3: and they look at some guys that want to be 125 00:06:15,307 --> 00:06:17,907 Speaker 3: anywhere else but Sean to drag him out and kick 126 00:06:17,947 --> 00:06:21,707 Speaker 3: the corners and just getting that rhythm that you know, 127 00:06:22,027 --> 00:06:24,707 Speaker 3: some people can call boring, but it's it's what wins 128 00:06:24,787 --> 00:06:29,347 Speaker 3: NRL games in this era. So I think he's done 129 00:06:29,507 --> 00:06:31,507 Speaker 3: terrific with that because that's probably the one area where 130 00:06:31,707 --> 00:06:33,867 Speaker 3: there was a little question mark about whether he could 131 00:06:33,907 --> 00:06:34,307 Speaker 3: do it or not. 132 00:06:34,867 --> 00:06:37,347 Speaker 2: As with any any player, there are peaks and troughs 133 00:06:37,347 --> 00:06:40,307 Speaker 2: in a career, and often when the Warriors lose at 134 00:06:40,307 --> 00:06:42,827 Speaker 2: Sewan Johnson's fault in the eyes of many of the 135 00:06:42,867 --> 00:06:45,947 Speaker 2: fan base. Why do you think he's become a lightning 136 00:06:46,027 --> 00:06:48,987 Speaker 2: rod for criticism, the most common scapegoat when the Warriors lose. 137 00:06:51,107 --> 00:06:53,867 Speaker 3: I don't think that's isolated to just Sean, you know, 138 00:06:53,947 --> 00:06:59,707 Speaker 3: I think any any playmaker that takes responsibility for getting 139 00:06:59,707 --> 00:07:02,347 Speaker 3: the team around the park. Well, I look at you know, 140 00:07:02,667 --> 00:07:05,107 Speaker 3: Chad Townsend, here at the Cowboys, look at Luke Brooks 141 00:07:05,347 --> 00:07:09,987 Speaker 3: in all this time the West Tigers. There's very few 142 00:07:11,027 --> 00:07:14,827 Speaker 3: hards or playmakers in the game that don't cop some 143 00:07:14,947 --> 00:07:17,147 Speaker 3: type of criticism when the result doesn't go their way 144 00:07:17,227 --> 00:07:19,827 Speaker 3: or it's just part of the course. And what I've 145 00:07:19,867 --> 00:07:23,787 Speaker 3: been impressed with with Sean is that that happened whether 146 00:07:23,827 --> 00:07:25,827 Speaker 3: he was at the Warriors or whether he's at Cronulla, 147 00:07:26,147 --> 00:07:28,947 Speaker 3: whether he's playing for New Zealand, and he's never let 148 00:07:29,027 --> 00:07:32,307 Speaker 3: that affect him. He's really mentally resilient. And you know, 149 00:07:32,347 --> 00:07:34,827 Speaker 3: he'll say he doesn't listen to the noise or read 150 00:07:34,867 --> 00:07:36,507 Speaker 3: it or any of that sort of stuff, but I'll 151 00:07:36,547 --> 00:07:38,907 Speaker 3: guarantee you would. But just the way he's able to 152 00:07:38,907 --> 00:07:42,827 Speaker 3: block that and go and get the job done more 153 00:07:42,867 --> 00:07:45,027 Speaker 3: often than not, should be a good lesson than any 154 00:07:45,067 --> 00:07:45,747 Speaker 3: young young. 155 00:07:45,587 --> 00:07:48,147 Speaker 2: Player indeed, and anything else that stands out from your 156 00:07:48,147 --> 00:07:49,707 Speaker 2: time with him, he had a couple of seasons with 157 00:07:49,827 --> 00:07:51,747 Speaker 2: them at the back end of your career. Anything else 158 00:07:51,787 --> 00:07:54,227 Speaker 2: apart from the moments we've mentioned before that stands. 159 00:07:53,907 --> 00:07:59,867 Speaker 3: Out again, just I'm impressed with even the more last 160 00:07:59,947 --> 00:08:02,227 Speaker 3: year with him in twenty twelve. We didn't have the 161 00:08:02,307 --> 00:08:05,907 Speaker 3: greatest year at the Warriors or coach turnover, and a 162 00:08:05,907 --> 00:08:08,427 Speaker 3: lot of player turned over that year from the year before. 163 00:08:08,467 --> 00:08:11,667 Speaker 3: We played in the Grand Final. But I vividly remember 164 00:08:13,427 --> 00:08:16,427 Speaker 3: my last game was that Mound Smart against Canberra and 165 00:08:16,467 --> 00:08:18,627 Speaker 3: we ended up getting beaten. But I sat around the 166 00:08:18,627 --> 00:08:21,107 Speaker 3: sheds after my last game and one of the things 167 00:08:21,147 --> 00:08:23,827 Speaker 3: I remember was the journey, you know, he sort of 168 00:08:23,947 --> 00:08:26,507 Speaker 3: thirty or forty games that Seawan had been on to 169 00:08:26,587 --> 00:08:30,347 Speaker 3: that point where he came in as a gunslinger in 170 00:08:30,387 --> 00:08:33,947 Speaker 3: the first grade and was looking to do something magical 171 00:08:33,987 --> 00:08:36,147 Speaker 3: with every touch, and already in only two seasons, he 172 00:08:36,227 --> 00:08:38,947 Speaker 3: sort of transformed himself into a guy that could manage 173 00:08:38,987 --> 00:08:41,787 Speaker 3: a game. And I guess at that stage he was 174 00:08:41,827 --> 00:08:45,027 Speaker 3: maybe twenty one, and I just would sat down for 175 00:08:45,587 --> 00:08:48,027 Speaker 3: how lucky and were that I've got to play a 176 00:08:48,107 --> 00:08:50,747 Speaker 3: very small part in this man's career because he's going 177 00:08:50,787 --> 00:08:53,827 Speaker 3: to be special. So he's gone to fulfill that. I guess. Yeah, 178 00:08:53,827 --> 00:08:58,267 Speaker 3: probably never won a competition, which will burn him a 179 00:08:58,267 --> 00:09:00,747 Speaker 3: little bit, but did everything in there else, everything else 180 00:09:00,747 --> 00:09:02,667 Speaker 3: there is to do in the game. So he's had 181 00:09:02,707 --> 00:09:05,227 Speaker 3: a wonderful career and you wish him all the best 182 00:09:05,267 --> 00:09:07,867 Speaker 3: with what he does in the future. And it's been 183 00:09:07,867 --> 00:09:10,667 Speaker 3: a pleasure to privilege to watch how he's gone. 184 00:09:10,787 --> 00:09:12,747 Speaker 2: Good man, Michael. So Warriors might be in the eight, 185 00:09:12,827 --> 00:09:15,387 Speaker 2: Cowboys will be by this weekend in the storm at 186 00:09:15,387 --> 00:09:17,827 Speaker 2: home Thursday night. Bulldog's a way to finish you reckon, 187 00:09:17,867 --> 00:09:19,427 Speaker 2: you can get in the top four. 188 00:09:21,707 --> 00:09:24,147 Speaker 3: Look, God sort of going to go too far ahead. 189 00:09:24,147 --> 00:09:26,387 Speaker 3: We need Melbourne to get the job done against the 190 00:09:26,427 --> 00:09:30,587 Speaker 3: Dolphins on Saturday night just to make sure that we 191 00:09:30,747 --> 00:09:33,467 Speaker 3: were in the eighth. And then after that, Yeah, we've 192 00:09:33,507 --> 00:09:37,387 Speaker 3: got Melbourne at home on Thursday night, which is great 193 00:09:37,587 --> 00:09:39,427 Speaker 3: with me. We haven't traveled for a month. We've been 194 00:09:39,427 --> 00:09:41,667 Speaker 3: in Townsville for the last four weeks, so that's been 195 00:09:41,947 --> 00:09:45,107 Speaker 3: a blessing. And then Bulldogs, which will be a really 196 00:09:45,147 --> 00:09:47,667 Speaker 3: good sharpened up into that next week because they're flying 197 00:09:47,667 --> 00:09:52,187 Speaker 3: at the moment, So looks anti question. I think the 198 00:09:52,267 --> 00:09:54,867 Speaker 3: last two weeks from USUS Minton the jackl and Hyde 199 00:09:54,867 --> 00:09:58,347 Speaker 3: and I think against the Broncos we were really really 200 00:09:58,427 --> 00:10:00,547 Speaker 3: poor and missed a huge opportunity to put a stamp 201 00:10:00,587 --> 00:10:05,187 Speaker 3: on the competition and defended not great attack. We took 202 00:10:05,187 --> 00:10:08,587 Speaker 3: some bad options, you know. Seven days later against Canberra 203 00:10:08,707 --> 00:10:11,787 Speaker 3: for the exact ops, the guys were great. They prayed 204 00:10:11,827 --> 00:10:15,707 Speaker 3: really well, defended well, only completed one try. And if 205 00:10:15,707 --> 00:10:18,307 Speaker 3: we can replicate that type of performance six more times, 206 00:10:18,307 --> 00:10:20,267 Speaker 3: I think, yeah, absolutely we can win a competition. In 207 00:10:20,427 --> 00:10:23,267 Speaker 3: attack is as good as areas in the compound. It's 208 00:10:23,307 --> 00:10:25,347 Speaker 3: just the defensive part of the game that we have 209 00:10:25,387 --> 00:10:27,907 Speaker 3: to get right. So that's a big challenge for Toddy 210 00:10:27,947 --> 00:10:30,587 Speaker 3: and our coaching staff and our playing groups over the 211 00:10:30,667 --> 00:10:31,307 Speaker 3: next month or so. 212 00:10:31,707 --> 00:10:33,387 Speaker 2: Well, all the best for it, Michael, thanks again for 213 00:10:33,467 --> 00:10:35,347 Speaker 2: joining us across New Zealand to reminius a bit about 214 00:10:35,347 --> 00:10:37,027 Speaker 2: Sean Johnson. Really appreciate you. 215 00:10:36,987 --> 00:10:39,347 Speaker 3: Taking the time, No pleasure, Thank you very much, No, thank. 216 00:10:39,187 --> 00:10:41,667 Speaker 2: You, Michael. Michael luck that doing great things at the 217 00:10:41,707 --> 00:10:45,827 Speaker 2: North Queensland Cowboys, a cult hero at the Warriors when 218 00:10:45,827 --> 00:10:47,707 Speaker 2: he was there. He's just he used to just make 219 00:10:47,747 --> 00:10:50,867 Speaker 2: a mountain of tackles. One game he made something like 220 00:10:50,947 --> 00:10:54,867 Speaker 2: sixty or seventy tackles or something. Stupid. Incredible player for 221 00:10:54,947 --> 00:10:57,147 Speaker 2: the Warriors and for the Cowboys as well before that. 222 00:10:57,347 --> 00:11:01,147 Speaker 2: Now general manager of football at the North Queensland Cowboys. 223 00:11:01,187 --> 00:11:03,027 Speaker 2: They're going along very nicely. Thanks very much. 224 00:11:03,787 --> 00:11:06,947 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Faine. Listen live 225 00:11:07,067 --> 00:11:10,347 Speaker 1: to News Talks it B weekends from midday, or follow 226 00:11:10,387 --> 00:11:11,947 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.