With Josh Schuster ruled out of Round 1 due to a calf injury, Cooper Johns believes he is better prepared than in previous years to seize his opportunity at NRL level if called upon to be the replacement five-eighth next week.
After playing 11 Telstra Premiership games for the Storm between 2020-2022, Johns headed back to the Northern Beaches, where he played his junior football, to join the Sea Eagles on a train and trial deal in November last year.
Living back at the family home with his parents Trish and Matt, Johns said he's the happiest he's been in a long time, which is having a positive impact on his footy.
“A lot of things probably changed in my life that [meant] I was a lot happier off the field [in the last six to eight months],” Johns said.
“I think that’s ultimately led to me performing better and just being better around the group, and just bringing a lot more energy around the group.
Something I’ve learned about myself is when I’m happy off the field it’s really evident in my football, and I am really enjoying my football.
Cooper Johns
"That’s probably been the biggest difference for me.
“I wouldn’t say I wasn’t happy off the field [in Melbourne], it’s just I had some things that probably brought me down a little bit, probably made me not enjoy my football as such in previous years, which [meant] probably when I did get my chances in first grade down in Melbourne I wasn’t taking them with both hands.”
Johns started in both of Manly's Pre-season Challenge games this month, laying on two try assists and a line break assist in Round 1 against the Rabbitohs, before teaming up with Schuster prior to his injury in the second game, kicking 12 times for 381 metres.
While not fussed about his form through February, the 23-year-old is determined not to waste his shot if coach Anthony Seibold picks him alongside Daly Cherry-Evans to take on the Bulldogs in the club's season-opening game.
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“I don’t read too much into trials or pre-season form, I’ve done before and it’s come back to bite me," Johns said.
“If [Round 1] does happen, I want to take that opportunity with both hands.
“I am obviously disappointed for 'Schuey', he’s trained all pre-season there and he’s worked really hard to get his weight down, and he’s definitely deserved that opportunity.
“We sort of saw in that first half on the weekend how good he was and talented he is. He’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever played with.”
Match Highlights: Roosters v Sea Eagles
Schuster meanwhile was this week doing his best to put on a brave face, with the two to three week injury leaving him a good chance of playing in the Sea Eagles’ second game of the year, thanks to the club having the bye in Round 2.
“It’s a big year for me and I know that,” Schuster said.
“It’s part of our game injuries, so I have just got to continue to keep positive and move forward.
“Obviously not ideal or what I wanted… it is disappointing but at the end of the day I can’t really do anything about it."