LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
In a thrilling Rugby League match on Saturday night, the Warriors were dominating with a 24-point lead as the clock hit 70 minutes.
Sensing victory, Dylan Walker, a player on the bench, urged the team management to substitute Shaun Johnson and protect him from any potential injury.
The website, warriors.kiwi, reported that Johnson, who played a crucial role in guiding his team to their first Preliminary Final in 12 years, felt confident and comfortable throughout the game.
His exceptional performance included setting up two tries and using his kicking skills to neutralize Newcastle's strong backline.
The support from the lively crowd of 26,083 at Go Media Stadium seemed to boost Johnson's confidence, despite his calf injury.
Eventually, coach Andrew Webster made the decision to rest the star No.7 for the final six minutes, ensuring his preservation for the upcoming match against the Broncos in Brisbane.
Although Johnson will likely have a limited training schedule to manage his injury, he expressed post-match that he emerged from the game unharmed and did not feel the effects of three weeks of minimal team training.