FOR weeks they have been saying Shaun Johnson is the next Benji Marshall. Last night the young halfback showed why, coming up with a play straight from Marshall's play-book to secure the Warriors a grand-final spot - with more than a hint of 2005 to it. Unexpected but seemingly unstoppable.
The play that booked the Warriors' second grand final was superb - a dummy before a jink and an offload to centre Lewis Brown, who broke Melbourne's heart with three minutes left just as the organ seemed to have recovered from having two premierships snatched back due to salary cap breaches.
In some ways this is a dream grand final, because only in our wildest dreams could we have imagined the Warriors would be here. Belted by the Broncos on the opening weekend of the finals, they beat the Tigers in the final two minutes a week later - then shocked the Storm last night.
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary was delighted with his side's composure.
''I thought we controlled possession and field position in the second half and that's what you need to do against Melbourne,'' he said.
''We were very patient and never wavered from what we wanted to do.''
He hailed the performance of his young halfback.
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'I don't expect it but I know he's capable of it,'' he said of Johnson setting up the match-winning try.
''In that arena, in that type of game, he did very well.''
For a club with one official premiership to its name in 12 years, Melbourne's reputation is a daunting one. But of all the teams in the competition, they have had more trouble with the Warriors on home soil than any other.
The Storm have a 50 per cent record when it comes to wins against the Warriors in Melbourne, so it was probably no surprise that the two teams were both still well in the contest at half-time.
The Storm needed a good start to erase any doubts that their opponents would be giving them.
They got it, five-eighth Gareth Widdop drifting across-field before sending Sika Manu, a player who seems as wide as he is high, over from close range.
It appeared then that the Storm might coast through to their third grand-final in five years - against the same opponents - but strangely, that's about when they stopped.
The Warriors upped the tempo, showing they held no fear for their opponents, and - like a confrontation with a barking dog - it appeared to work.
After 12 minutes, they levelled the scores; halfback Shaun Johnson's kick being batted backwards by centre Krisnan Inu, allowing winger Bill Tupou to scoop up the scraps.
The Warriors would have been taking some confidence, too, from the fact that the Storm's key players were not having it all their own way.
Fullback Billy Slater leapt high but could not take a bomb, and there was certainly no luck involved when lock Micheal Luck showed wonderful ball-playing skills to put five-eighth James Maloney over.
The Storm settled back down, however, and the match did as a result. The freneticism of the opening was overtaken by the grind of two teams slugging it out for a spot in a premiership decider. It was only broken by Slater's ball to Beau Champion, against the run of play, which set the centre on a 60-metro dash to the line.
Honours even again. The Warriors nudged ahead with a Maloney penalty goal on the half-time siren.
The Storm were fortunate not to be finished off with 11 minutes remaining, when a try to centre Lewis Brown was denied because of a knock-on by Locke. Soon after, he would not be denied. The Warriors have come good at the right time.
WARRIORS 20 (L Brown J Maloney B Tupou tries J Maloney 4 goals) bt MELBOURNE 12 (B Champion S Manu tries C Smith 2 goals) at AAMI Park. Referee: Tony Archer, Matt Cecchin. Crowd: 28,580.
Source:SMH
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