Johnson sympathises with pain of Warriors’ huge sacrifices

A HEARTFELT Shaun Johnson has spoken of his sadness for his ex-New Zealand Warriors teammates, declaring there is no way he would stay separated from his pregnant wife Kayla to play rugby league.

On an afternoon when Johnson gave the Warriors a gigantic backhander for the way he was unceremoniously shown the door back in 2018, the star Cronulla playmaker also showed compassion for many of his closest friends in the wake of a humiliating 46-10 thumping.

Ever since Cooper Cronk accused Johnson of “firing blanks” early last month, Johnson has been close to the Sharks’ best every week.

On Sunday, Johnson scored his first try of the season along with playing a significant hand in several more in the eighttries-to-two mauling, while also landing seven goals.

The win moves the Sharks to 10 competition points and ninth on the ladder.

Johnson, right, admitted it was good to get one back on the club “that didn’t necessarily want you”, but when he spoke about his former teammates it was from the heart.

Asked if he felt sorry for the Warriors, he said: “I won’t say I feel sorry for them. I don’t bloody pity them, it is not about that.

“I have very close friends in that group. I still have a lot of care for the club.

“I have been there and I have experienced some of that pain where you try so hard and it just doesn’t translate on the field. And I know the professionalism they have in that group and the leadership. They have got the right ingredients. That is where my pain comes.

“I don’t know if I could do what they are doing in terms of coming over here and sacrificing. I have got my pregnant wife, 33 weeks pregnant, there is no way I could leave her right now.”

Penrith’s win was its fourth in five games.