NRL: Johnson missing, Seymour back for Storm match

Shaun Johnson of the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

There will be no place for dynamic young playmaker Shaun Johnson in the Warriors team to face the first-placed Storm at Mt Smart Stadium tomorrow.

Johnson has been named on a six-man bench but, having recalled veteran Australian Brett Seymour, it is understood coach Ivan Cleary has resisted the temptation to retain the exciting young halfback as an impact player.

Instead, young hooker Alehana Mara will return to the side as back-up to Aaron Heremaia.

Cleary didn't respond to a Herald request to confirm that Johnson had been dropped, however earlier in the week he said he was encouraged by the 20-year-old's brief foray into the NRL.

"In his three weeks he has seen a lot," Cleary said. "He has experienced more than he ever has before. He understands his strengths and he understands what he needs to improve on. I thought the way he bounced back from that game against the Tigers, where he really learned a lot in the last 20 minutes, really shows a lot of maturity."

Johnson is undoubtedly the playmaker of the future, however Cleary felt his ability to direct and organise the team still needed some development.

"He has got some way to go there. That is totally normal for a young guy. All in all I am very happy with how he has gone."

The Warriors will unveil the fifth centre combination of this season against the Storm tomorrow.

With world class Australian Brent Tate departing at the end of last season, the centre position seemed likely to be an area of uncertainty this season. But even the most ardent pessimist would have struggled to predict just what an area of concern the position would become. The loss of Jerome Ropati to a season-ending knee injury and the loss of confidence in Joel Moon has left Cleary scratching for viable options.

Tomorrow's pairing of Shaun Berrigan and Lewis Brown has more than a hint of deckchair shuffling on the Titanic about it. Brown and Berrigan have played centre five times each this season, but this is their first outing together.

Brown has been steady on defence but limited on attack, while Berrigan has struggled defensively at times, particularly during a horror outing against Newcastle.

"At the start of the year I made some changes because I wasn't happy defensively and you could probably say the same at the moment," Cleary said.

Captain Simon Mannering has been the one constant since round four, but Cleary has adopted a horses-for-courses approach for tomorrow's match, believing Mannering's presence is required in a pack missing the injured Micheal Luck.

In fairness to Cleary, he has few options. The club signed Shaun Metcalf mid-season but he is yet to play at NRL level, while Moon's card appears to have been firmly marked. The former Bronco is out of contract at the end of the season and has been playing at lock for feeder club Auckland Vulcans.

League

Warriors v Storm

Mt Smart Stadium, 2pm tomorrow

Lance Hohaia
Bill Tupou
Lewis Brown
Shaun Berrigan
Manu Vatuvei
James Maloney
Brett Seymour
Russell Packer
Aaron Heremaia
Jacob Lillyman
Feleti Mateo
S Mannering
Elijah Taylor

Shaun Johnson, Jeremy Latimore, Sione Lousi, Alehana Mara, Ben Matulino, Steve Rapira (two to be omitted).

Billy Slater
Matt Duffie
Dane Nielsen
Maurice Blair
Sisa Waqa
Gareth Widdop
Cooper Cronk
Jesse Bromwich
Cameron Smith
Bryan Norrie
Adam Blair
Kevin Proctor
Todd Lowrie

Ryan Hinchcliffe, Sika Manu, Adam Woolnough, Jaiman Lowe, Rory Kostjasyn, Justin O'Neill (two to be omitted).

This season

Warriors centre combinations

* Shaun Berrigan / Simon Mannering 5 matches
* Lewis Brown / Simon Mannering 5 matches
* Joel Moon / Jerome Ropati 3 matches
* Kristnan Inu / Simon Mannering 1 match
* Shaun Berrigan / Lewis Brown 0