Johnson vows: I won’t be crossing the Tasman
If Shaun Johnson plays in the NRL next year, it will be for the Warriors.
Though there are unknowns around his future beyond this season, one thing is certain — he doesn’t want to play for a rival NRL club.
A final decision could be weeks or even months away but he won’t be crossing the Tasman.
Johnson’s contract status has become a major talking point the past two months with his impressive start to the season, rediscovering some of the best form of his career.
That led to a major rethink at the Warriors about their roster for 2024 — and a few headaches for the management team — and also prompted a lucrative two-year offer from the West Tigers, believed to be around $700,000 a season, which Johnson’s management recently turned down.
Aside from the Tigers offer, the Herald understands there has been interest from at least one other Australian club.
Johnson had intentionally stayed out of the media the past two months but broke his silence yesterday to clarify.
“If I do play, I want it to be here,” said Johnson. “And I probably made that pretty clear with my answer to a club [Tigers] coming out a couple of weeks ago.
“I don’t want to go somewhere for the wrong reasons. I just felt like if I was to leave again, it wouldn’t be right. Put it this way, I don’t want to go elsewhere and try to win. I want to win here if I’m playing.”
The money offered by the Tigers was undoubtedly attractive and would have dwarfed any potential Warriors deal, which will be limited to one season. Johnson admitted the interest was “flattering”.
“I had some chats with my family and they were sort of telling me I’m stupid,” Johnson said, laughing.
But financial matters were never the key driver.
“People just don’t believe us when we say that’s not what it’s all about. But with where I’m at, if I’m going to do this and put my body through another pre-season and all that, it has to be to win. And I believe that the Warriors are in a position to win. I couldn’t see myself going elsewhere to compete against that.”
But whether he is wearing the No 7 jersey next year is a moot point. Johnson seems relaxed about the time frame, saying it is a call that could be made as late as the end of the season and as early as next week.
He may choose to walk away at the top of his game but seems to be leaning towards one more campaign and there seem no physical impediments for the 32-year-old.
“I’m pretty happy with where things are at physically, mentally. I’m certainly enjoying being back home with family and friends. So I’m not writing anything off.”
There has been ongoing dialogue with Warriors coach Andrew Webster and they are both “on the same page” about not rushing a decision.
The second part of the equation is the club’s ability to fit him within the salary cap. Johnson isn’t earning what he was in his halcyon days — when he was the highest-paid player at the Warriors — but the impending arrival of Chanel Harris-Tavita means there are already four playmakers on the books for 2024, with Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf and Ronald Volkman also signed.
The Warriors are keen to retain Johnson if they can make it work but won’t be able to break the bank.
Whatever happens, Johnson appears at peace and content with his career.
“There is no unfinished business. I don’t have a point to prove to anyone. I play this game because I love it. And I still feel like I’ve got the competitive bug in me that I want to win. So as long as that’s there, as long as I’m happy, then no door is closed.”
He has already made plans for life after footy, including mentoring roles, input at the club and media work, but when that new chapter starts remains up in the air.
“I just want us to win. If that’s me in the seven jersey [or] if it’s me commentating and coming to do [media] stuff and then helping out where else I can, then so be it. But I certainly think the club is heading in the right direction and I want to be a part of that, one way or another.”