Sport

Shaun Johnson's night at Warriors' awards

06:02 am on 5 September 2023

Shaun Johnson of the Warriors. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Halfback Shaun Johnson has scooped the Warriors' top awards.

Johnson picked up three honours at the NRL club's awards evening including the highest accolade -the Simon Mannering Medal.

In a season of singular achievement he was also judged by his peers as the players' player of the year and won the People's Choice award voted by the public.

The triple sweep comes five days out from Johnson celebrating his 33rd birthday on the same day the Warriors meet Penrith in their first NRL finals match in five years.

In winning the premier award, Johnson emulates the great Stacey Jones, the only other halfback to receive the accolade in the club's history when he was honoured in 1997.

Also rated as a strong chance to win the prestigious Dally M Medal as the NRL's player of the year, Johnson has been in sublime form throughout his first season back home since the 2018 season.

He was on the field for all but 22 minutes of a possible 1842 minutes in the first 23 games of the campaign before being rested for Saturday's final regular season match against the Dolphins.

He's the competition's fifth highest points-scorer this year with 176 including eight tries, his best season tally since he scored 10 tries in 2016.

Shaun Johnson wins the Simon Mannering medal, 2023. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Along with the accolades it has been a season for milestones for Johnson. He became only the fifth player to appear in 200 NRL matches for the Warriors while he also reached his 250th career appearance and was the first player to top 1000 points for the club.

The other nominees for the Simon Mannering Medal and the players' player of the year award were fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, prop Addin Fonua-Blake and captain Tohu Harris.

NRL Rookie of the Year went to Taine Tuaupiki, NRL Clubman of the Year to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

-RNZ