8 May 2015

Pressure increases on Warriors

7:00 pm on 8 May 2015

The Warriors coach Andrew McFadden says he's not surprised by halfback Shaun Johnson's influential display in the Kiwis' drought-breaking ANZAC rugby league Test victory.

The Warriors are away to Cronulla on Saturday and looking to break a two-match losing run that has dropped them to 13th, just ahead of the Sharks on points differential.

The winner of the 2014 Golden Boot for the world's best player, Johnson came under the spotlight pre-match over his NRL form this season.

Shaun Johnson is hopeful he can reproduce the form that helped the Kiwis beat the Kanagaroos, when the Warriors play Cronulla.

Shaun Johnson is hopeful he can reproduce the form that helped the Kiwis beat the Kanagaroos, when the Warriors play Cronulla. Photo: Photosport

He responded with a starring role in the Kiwis first mid-year Test win over Australia since 1998.

Johnson believes his NRL form has been building too.

"What I did at the weekend for the Kiwis is something I've been trying to do every weekend and I've been slowly getting there, so I guess I've just got to come back (to the Warriors) and stick with... if we go down this weekend we're starting to fall behind the eight ball so we are putting big emphasis on this weekend.