Shaun Johnson says Warriors won’t lack confidence against Panthers, Tohu Harris cleared to return

NRL finals week one: Panthers v Warriors Where: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith When: Saturday, September 9, 6.05pm. Coverage: Live Sky Sport 4, live updates on Stuff from 5.45pm.

They’re major outsiders but freshly crowned Warriors Player of the Year Shaun Johnson claims the club is full of confidence ahead of their first NRL finals appearance in five years.

That’s despite the club facing a daunting trip to Penrith to take on minor premiership winners and two-time defending NRL champions the Panthers, who will have superstar halfback Nathan Cleary pulling the strings.

Cleary spent much of his youth looking up to Johnson when his father and now Panthers head coach, Ivan Cleary, was in charge at the Warriors.

Johnson, who says the club has continued to build self-confidence under Andrew Webster, Ivan Cleary’s former assistant from last year, is excited about the challenge of going up against Nathan Cleary.

“You always want to play against the best players and he’s established himself now as probably the best halfback in the comp, so it’s a challenge I always look forward to.

“They got one on us earlier in the year and they’re playing some really good footy but I know we’ll be ready though, I know we will be,” Johnson said.

Webster’s ability to build resilience, self-belief and culture during pre-season has been a massive part of the Warriors playing finals for the first time since 2018, Johnson said, but he added the squad has continued to build towards the finals’ series.

“Not once are we ever comfortable,” Johnson said. “We show up every day looking for those small improvements or really obvious improvements and banking that gives you confidence heading into this weekend.

“Just our environment, the culture we’ve created and built is so good to be a part of.”

The NZ TAB has the Panthers at $1.21 in the head-to-head market against the Warriors who are paying $4.25 to cause the upset.

Johnson will be partnered in the halves on Saturday by Te Maire Martin, who finally returned to first grade last week following a broken leg suffered way back in round six, with Luke Metcalf sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Warriors captain Tohu Harris has been cleared to start after managing back spasms post the 18-6 victory over the Dragons late last month

Jazz Tevaga returns from a hamstring strain to take a spot on the bench, meaning there is no room for veteran prop Bunty Afoa in the match day 17.

Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Rocco Berry, Adam Pompey, Marcelo Montoya, Te Maire Martin, Shaun Johnson; Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Mitchell Barnett, Jackson Ford, Marata Niukore, Tohu Harris (c). Interchange: Dylan Walker, Jazz Tevaga, Bayley Sironen, Josh Curran. Reserves: Freddy Lussick, Taine Tuaupiki, Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Edward Kosi.

Panthers: Dylan Edwards, Sunia Turuva, Izack Tago, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Jack Cogger, Nathan Cleary; Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny, James Fisher-Harris, Scott Sorensen, Isaah Yeo. Interchange: Tyrone Peachey, Lindsay Smith, Spencer Leniu, Zac Hosking, Jaeman Salmon, Matthew Eisenhuth, Luke Sommerton, Tom Jenkins.

Referee: Adam Gee