Shaun Johnson, the seasoned halfback, is entering the final chapter of his illustrious 14-year NRL career as he prepares to lead the One New Zealand Warriors against the Dolphins this Sunday. The match, which is part of the 23rd round of the season, will be held at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane with a local kickoff time of 2:00 pm (4:00 pm NZT). Johnson, now 33, has officially announced his retirement, marking the beginning of his farewell tour. The game against the Dolphins is the first of the Warriors’ last four regular season matches, all of which will be crucial for the team as they aim to finish the season on a high note. Following this game, they will face the Sea Eagles in Sydney on Friday, August 16.
The upcoming game against the Dolphins will be Johnson’s 266th career appearance, with 222 of those games played for the Warriors. The team is hoping to rebound from their disappointing 20-30 loss to the Parramatta Eels last Friday. In terms of team selection, there has been only one change from the lineup that faced the Eels. Edward Kosi, who scored a try in the Warriors’ 28-16 victory over the Wests Tigers on July 26, returns to the left wing. This adjustment moves Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to the centers, while Moala Graham-Taufa shifts to the extended bench. The starting forward pack remains unchanged for the fifth consecutive game, with the interchange bench also remaining consistent with Freddy Lussick, Tom Ale, Jazz Tevaga, and Leka Halasima.
As the Warriors prepare for this important match, the team’s top try-scorer, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, is on the verge of achieving two significant milestones. With 97 tries in his NRL career spanning 208 games, Watene-Zelezniak is just three tries away from joining the elite group of New Zealand players who have scored 100 or more tries. If he reaches this milestone, he will become the sixth New Zealander to do so, following in the footsteps of legends like Manu Vatuvei, Nigel Vagana, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Jordan Rapana, and Jason Nightingale. Additionally, Watene-Zelezniak needs just two more tries to reach 50 tries for the Warriors, a feat previously accomplished by only nine other players. Notably, he has the potential to become the fastest player in Warriors history to reach 50 tries, needing only 65 games to do so. The current record is held by David Fusitu’a, who reached 50 tries in 77 games. Watene-Zelezniak has been in excellent form against the Dolphins, scoring twice in the Warriors’ 30-8 home victory over them last season. Although he was rested for the return match in Brisbane, he made a significant impact by scoring again in the Warriors’ 24-20 win over the Dolphins in Auckland earlier this year.
As the Dolphins prepare to face the Warriors, they find themselves in a challenging position. Despite a strong start to the season, they have struggled in recent weeks, slipping to ninth place on the ladder with 24 points. This has left them three points behind the Warriors, who are determined to secure a victory and improve their standings as the regular season nears its end.
In summary, Shaun Johnson’s farewell tour is officially underway as he leads the Warriors into their crucial match against the Dolphins. With only four regular season games remaining, the Warriors will be looking to build momentum and honor Johnson’s career with strong performances. The match also provides an opportunity for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to reach significant personal milestones, further adding to the anticipation surrounding this Sunday’s clash. As the Dolphins look to regain their early-season form, the stage is set for an exciting and competitive encounter at Suncorp Stadium.
