NZ Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson is continuing to win plaudits from the rest of the NRL, with Melbourne Storm coach mastermind Craig Bellamy pinpointing him as a key factor in the club's 2023 turnaround.
With the Warriors currently enjoying a bright start to this year's NRL season, with five wins and two defeats to sit inside the top eight and playoff contention, the club looks to have completely laid any demons from 2022 to rest.
Last year, the Kiwi side endured the worst season in the club's history, winning only six games to go with 18 defeats, and finishing 15th out of 16 teams.
Under new coach Andrew Webster, and aided by key arrivals in multiple positions, the Warriors have turned a new leaf.
But while the new signings have been instrumental in the Warriors' reversal of fortunes, it's been an old head at the heart of their resurgence.
After the first seven games of the year, Johnson led the NRL in assists with eight, sat second to Parramatta's Mitchell Moses for kick metres with 3526, and joint-second for linebreak assists, only behind Reece Walsh of the Broncos.
Last month, Canterbury Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo labelled Johnson the "difference maker" between the two sides after scoring the winning try in a 16-14 Warriors win.
And quizzed about the Warriors' turnaround before their traditional Anzac Day encounter against Melbourne Storm, coach Bellamy reached the same conclusion.
"They've always had some talent," said Bellamy of the Warriors. "They're probably more disciplined now.
"Shaun Johnson is playing as good as he's ever played, if not better than he's ever played.
"He's always been one of the kingpin kickers in the game, and he's still that. He's doing a lot more for them this year than he's done for a couple of years, I think.
"That's just a little example of where their improvement has come from."
Johnson will spearhead the Warriors' quest for redemption against the Storm on Anzac Day, marking exactly a year since the Kiwi side's worst defeat, losing 70-10 in a mismatch twelve months ago.
Join Newshub at 9pm Tuesday for live updates of the Warriors v Storm Anzac Day clash or catch live coverage on Three
