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Shaun Johnson admits silencing his critics was a motivating factor in his match-winning Four Nations performance against England and his New Zealand teammates are delighted to see him return to form ahead of Saturdays clash against Australia.Johnson said after Saturdays 17-16 win at Huddersfield he had been stung by criticism following a poor NRL season with the Warriors and an under-par display against Australia in the Kiwis recent defeat in Perth.The 2014 Golden Boot winner is the one of the games true talents but the weight of expectation upon his shoulders at club and international level has often affected his game.But after laying the foundations for the Four Nations win against an England side that went in full of confidence following last years series win against the Kiwis with a 70-metre try and then winning the match with a field goal, Johnson seems to have rediscovered his mojo.We all know hes a great player and he showed that against England, New Zealand prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves told AAP..Shaun can do things other players cant and that little bit of magic can make all the difference in tight matches. When he is confident and happy he is great player to have in your team.We have another tough game coming up against the Aussies but well take a lot from the England win.Johnson has been the scourge of the English before, winning the 2013 World Cup semi-final with a last-second try and kick, and said he will go into the Kangaroos clash at Coventry in a great headspace following a much improved performance.We were very disappointed in Perth with how we finished our sets, we didnt need outside influences to tell us that, Johnson said.Defence was the key to the win. We let in 26 points in Perth due to us coughing up the ball and we needed to play smarter and we did that.Well be much better next week against the Aussies and go to Coventry with a lot of confidence. . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play.TORONTO - Looking to fill a hole at left fullback, Toronto FC has signed Swiss defender Jonas Elmer. The MLS side has tried a variety of players at the position, including moving English fullback Richard Eckersley from the right to the left side. Other fullbacks at the club include Ashtone Morgan, Darel Russell and Ryan Richter. Elmer, 25,, most recently played for FC Winterthur in the Swiss second division.dddddddddddd "Im a defender first of all but I really like to go forward," Elmer said. Elmer was a youth player at Switzerlands Grasshopper Club Zurich before moving in 2005 to Chelsea, where he spent two seasons with the youth and reserve teams. ' ' '
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