Keighran plays down Johnson comparison
Adam Keighran insisted he’s not the next Shaun Johnson for the Warriors after a stunning debut against the Bulldogs at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.
Keighran, who was making his NRL debut, scored a superb solo try and kicked six from seven goals in the Warriors’ 40-6 romp over the woeful Bulldogs.
Given the concerns many Warriors fans had over how the club would cope without Johnson, those fears have been allayed with a great performance from the 21-yearold.
‘‘I’m seriously stoked. I don’t know what to say,’’ Keighran said after the game.
‘‘I’m just so happy to finally get that game and especially with the win, it makes it even better.’’
Although he played well on debut, Keighran said he didn’t feel he was anywhere near the level Johnson is as a player and he tried to ignore the stories in the media that he was the next Johnson in the lead up to this game.
‘‘Obviously there was a lot of media and I get tagged on social media, I tried to block it out, but obviously I do see it,’’ he said.
‘‘Shaun Johnson is a step above. You see that in his highlight reel and I can’t really compare myself to him at all.
‘‘But I can work on my own game, try to improve from this game and go beyond that.’’
While Keighran played well, not surprisingly, it wasn’t faultless, but a good starting point to build on. ‘‘I’m happy,’’ he said. ‘‘There are always things to improve and I think I can get a bit more involved.
‘‘But it was my first game and I’ve got the nerves out and I can work on it for next week and improve on those things.’’
At the start of the game it was Keighran’s halves partner Blake Green who was having the biggest impact. The veteran was superb with his kicking, setting up a number of the Warriors’ tries.
Keighran said it wasn’t intended for Green to start strongly and him to build into it, but that’s how it panned out.
‘‘It wasn’t the plan, but it sort of worked out that way,’’ he said.
‘‘He’s a good leader, he knows how to direct play, so he made it real easy for me and I was able to play off the back of him.’’
One aspect of Keighran’s game that wasn’t talked up much leading in the game was his goal kicking.
But after missing the first conversion, which was out wide, he was perfect for the rest of the game.
‘‘I shanked my first one and I knew I had to correct the second one,’’ he said.
‘‘So once that went over I felt pretty comfortable with my strike. It was good to get that first goal and it made it easier for the rest of them.’’
Green meanwhile, was pleased with what he saw from his new halves partner and felt he’ll take a lot from it.
‘‘I was really happy for him,’’ Green said.
‘‘Obviously he was making his debut and he had all of his family over here and he played his role really well. He was calm, took his opportunities and did a good job.
‘‘I’ve always said he was a good runner of the football, as we saw when he scored the try, he has good instincts and when they jammed on him, he moved out on the pass and carried the footy.’’
‘‘I’m just so happy to finally get that game and especially with the win, it makes it even better.’’
Adam Keighran, above, scoring a try against the Bulldogs on Saturday.