Johnson stays focused on Warriors, not future
Star playmaker wants to have fun, writes Marvin France.
Shaun Johnson insists it is business as usual as he enters one of the most important periods of his career.
A late starter to pre-season due to his Kiwis commitments, the Warriors halfback has just completed his second week of training under new coach Stephen Kearney as he prepares to lead another assault on the NRL Auckland Nines before the primary task of transforming the club into a premiership contender.
But with Johnson in the last year of his current deal at Mt Smart, his contract situation shapes as a major sub-plot of the Warriors’ campaign.
The NRL is yet to finalise the salary cap for 2018 amid ongoing collective bargaining agreement talks, although reports indicate it could hit the A$10 million ($10.4m) mark.
With elite playmakers in high demand and Johnson, who turns 27 in September, in the prime years of his career, he is well-placed for a significant upgrade.
Yet as his management resumed negotiations with the Warriors this week, Johnson says he is approaching the season as he would any other.
‘‘It doesn’t weigh on my mind at all,’’ Johnson said.
‘‘It’s the same going into any other season. I want to start the season well, play some good footy and have some fun.
‘‘I’m at the Warriors for another year and that’s all I’m thinking about.
‘‘We’ll have some fun this year, hopefully win some games and have a really good season and we’ll go from there.’’
Watching the hot-stepping halfback run circles around opposing defences has become one of the most breathtaking sights in rugby league.
But after struggling for consistency over the last few years, Johnson has become a polarising figure among Warriors fans.
The biggest gripe among his detractors in 2016 was a perceived reluctance to take on the defensive line on a regular basis.
Such is his talent, though, there is no doubt that rival clubs - and codes - would be queuing up for his services should he decide to head elsewhere.
The Warriors have a host of players coming off contract in 2017, which is complicated by the uncertainty surrounding the salary cap.
Early indications point to Johnson extending his stay in Auckland and, while he declined to comment on where his future lay, it is clear his heart remains in the 13-man game.
Having battled through a niggling quad injury during the second half of last season before playing every It's the same going into any other season. I want to start the season well, play some good footy and have some fun. match of the Kiwis’ Four Nations campaign in the UK, Johnson could have easily skipped the Nines to throw all of his attention into preparing for the season proper.
But he is passionate about growing league in this country and sees the two-day tournament at Eden Park as a great way to do so.
‘‘It’s probably something I’ve really wanted to take on board a bit more since having a couple of years under my belt playing in the NRL now,’’ Johnson said of his desire to see league flourish.
‘‘It helps that I grew up in New Zealand and understand where rugby league sits in the pecking order amongst other sports.
‘‘I think it’s the best game in the world so of course I want to be a part of showcasing it and make it grow.
‘‘I really feel like [the Nines] shows rugby league in a really good light and anything to grow the game in New Zealand and showcase rugby league in a positive way, I definitely want to be a part of that process.’’
The Nines came in for criticism this week by prominent Australian rugby league identity Phil Gould who, among other things, claimed many NRL players were not suited to the abbreviated format.
Johnson, though, can see the benefits of the pre-season tournament, which takes place on February 4-5.
He says the concept is hugely popular among his team-mates and as long as the event is drawing big crowds they will continue to put their hands up.
‘‘Because it’s such an awesome spectacle and you’ve got players just wanting to be a part it, it makes you train that little bit harder to fight for your position in the group,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s sort of like that little carrot that they dangle in front of you because they know that everyone wants to run out there in front of however many people and play something a little bit different to what we play for 26 rounds of the year.
‘‘We all have to earn our spot and as players that can only make you better.’’