NRL: Triumph eases Warriors pain

Kiwis star Shaun Johnson celebrates victory. Photo / Getty Images

Mercurial halfback shrugs off club tally after Kiwis victory.

Kiwis halfback Shaun Johnson says their Four Nations tournament triumph has eased the pain of a disappointing Warriors NRL campaign.

Speaking at the post-match press conference at Westpac Stadium, alongside Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney and captain and club teammate Simon Mannering, the man-of-the-match playmaker admitted Saturday night's 22-18 victory over the Kangaroos would ensure his off-season break was more enjoyable after the Warriors again failed to make this season's NRL playoffs.

"It's good. With how our season finished at club wasn't ideal but to get the opportunity to go into the break with that bit of satisfaction that we did cap it off the right way, it will certainly make the break a little bit more enjoyable," Johnson said.

Yesterday, having had time to reflect on his first tournament success in the black jumper, Johnson took to social media to thank fans for their messages of support and declared the Four Nations title win the best moment of his career so far.

Posting on Twitter, Johnson's message read: "Just flicking through some of the tweets now. Thank you for your support! Proudest moment of my career! #StillBuzzing #Kiwis."

Despite having gone through their campaign undefeated with four consecutive wins, including back-to-back victories over the world champion Kangaroos - their first since 1953 - Johnson denied the Kiwis could now call themselves the world's best team.

"We're not looking at it that way at all. We're Four Nations champions. That's good enough for me. We'll just go with that."

Mannering spoke of his satisfaction in reversing a horror four-year, eight-game losing run to the Kangaroos and rewarding the faith of loyal and long-suffering supporters.

The players had revelled in the rare chance to play three games on home soil and were grateful for the warm support that greeted them in Whangarei, Dunedin and Wellington.

"It's just nice to be a part of it," Mannering said. "In the past it hasn't happened too often, to taste success against Australia, and we've been on the back end of some poor score lines.

"It's special. To have the majority of this tournament at home and the places we did play at we had a great response from the people and it's just nice to repay that faith by winning.

"I'm just pleased for the group, players, staff [who] put a lot of effort in and it's nice to see it pay off.

"At the start of the tournament that's what we set out to do. It was four steps to what we wanted to achieve and it's just nice to tick that off at home. It's been an enjoyable tournament and it's nice to cap it off."

With most angles covered and questions answered, Kearney joked the 15-minute media conference had gone on long enough and reminded the press throng that they were eager to join the celebrating.

"You're holding up the tasting of the champagne you guys," Kearney said, before Mannering added: "All the beers will be drunk by the time we get there [changing sheds]."

Top team
Went through their Four Nations tournament unbeaten

Top performance
Achieved back-to-back victories over Australia for the first time 1953

Top dog
Shaun Johnson's first tournament success for the Kiwis