NZ Warriors coach Stacey Jones has challenged star halfback Shaun Johnson to consistently replicate the form shown in the side's victory over Canterbury Bulldogs last week, as the Kiwi side look to finish their 2022 season on a high.
Since returning to the club from Cronulla Sharks at the start of the year, Johnson has had a middling season by his own standards - scoring three tries and creating 14 more in his 19 appearances so far.
Of that tally, one try and two assists came from Friday's victory over the Bulldogs, as the 31-year-old wound back the clock in the Warriors' 42-18 win.
And since the Warriors' homecoming clash against Wests Tigers, Johnson has come up with seven try assists in his last six games - half of his season total.
But with the Warriors having recruited heavily in their halves stocks for 2023, with Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf and Ronald Volkman all to compete for two spots next year, pressure is on for Johnson to finish the year strongly and keep hold of the No.7 jersey under new coach Andrew Webster.
And for interim coach Jones, in charge of the team for the final three games of the season, starting with North Queensland Cowboys on Friday, the challenge has been laid down to Johnson to prove he should be the Warriors' go-to at halfback.
"Obviously he knows he hasn't had a year that's been consistent - like the whole team," Jones said.
"I've felt that the last six weeks since we've been able to come home, Shaun has felt better within himself. He's playing better football.
"But he's one of those players that you've got to do it every week. I thought last week he came up with a couple of errors.
"But the beauty of Shaun when you come up with those errors, he was able to fight his way out of it, and come up with some really good plays for the team."
Elsewhere, Jones hasn't had to lay any such challenge down to winger Edward Kosi, after a stellar run of form in recent weeks.
After coming into the side to replace Dallin Watene-Zelezniak against Parramatta Eels, Kosi has scored seven tries in his last five games, including a hat-trick against Melbourne Storm.
Kosi's form has been so prolific, he's even forced regular winger Marcelo Montoya into the centres, to be accommodated alongside Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
The comeback from Kosi has been pleasing for Jones, after the 23-year-old was dropped from the side after a record 70-10 loss - also against the Storm - on Anzac Day.
"He's got that jersey at the moment, it's up to him if he wants to keep it or not," Jones added.
"He got out player of the day a couple of times there. From where he came from after that Storm performance to where he is now, it's a credit to him.
"He's worked hard at his game, got himself in the team and established himself.
"Marcelo's [Montoya] a big part of our team too, and he's moved him into a position that's not regular for Marce - but Marce is doing a really good job there too."
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