NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / League / Warriors

Rugby League: New Zealand Warriors star Shaun Johnson breaks his silence on future

David Skipwith
By David Skipwith
Reporter·NZ Herald·
15 Nov, 2018 02:20 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Shaun Johnson is back from the UK where the Kiwis lost the test series to England 2-1. Photo / Photosport

Shaun Johnson is back from the UK where the Kiwis lost the test series to England 2-1. Photo / Photosport

Off-contract Warriors star Shaun Johnson has arrived home and wants to sort out his playing future, but remains open-minded about where he could land.

The 28-year-old playmaker spoke for the first time about the uncertainty over whether he will re-sign with the Warriors when he flew into Auckland today following the completion of the Kiwis' end of year tour of England.

As first reported by the Herald, the Warriors are yet to make a new offer to retain the 162-game halfback who has a year remaining on his current million-dollar contract.

The Penrose-based club last month told Johnson's agent Peter Brown his client is free to test his value on the open market.

Shaun Johnson says he doesn't know where he will be playing his footy next season. Photo / Getty
Shaun Johnson says he doesn't know where he will be playing his footy next season. Photo / Getty
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Johnson today revealed he is yet to hear from anyone at the Warriors but is keen to meet with Brown while telling AAP he remains open to "speaking to anyone who's keen to have a chat, really".

"I haven't had any chats with anyone, I haven't spoken to anyone at the Warriors, I can't really comment on what's going to happen until I do that," said Johnson.

He was unsure whether he would see out the duration of his current contract or extend his time at Mt Smart beyond next season, but remained philosophical about the situation.

"It is a business at the end of the day," Johnson said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I made my debut, I played all my footy for the Warriors and it's a club that, regardless of if I'm here over the next few years, I'm always going to love.

"I've had awesome support, there's been a lot of people that have sent positive messages. So, for now, I can't tell you what's going to happen but all I know is that I'm going to enjoy my break, going to enjoy spending time with my family and hopefully soak in some of this sun."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shaun Johnson (@shaun_johnson90)

The Warriors have not yet drawn a line through his name with chief executive Cameron George having previously stated the club was looking forward to talking to Johnson after his international duties were over. It's understood both parties will look to meet in the coming days.

He faces a battle to win another seven-figure contract however, and if the Warriors do table a new offer it will be a drastically reduced deal.

Discover more

Warriors

Stacey Jones: Everyone wants Johnson to stay at Warriors

02 Nov 10:58 PM
Sport

Exclusive: Warriors set to dump million-dollar man

04 Nov 01:07 AM
League

Maguire lauds Kiwis defensive grit

11 Nov 09:14 PM
League

Michael Burgess: The day a Kiwis star was born

12 Nov 01:12 AM

Sources close to the Warriors last month revealed they are no longer willing to fork out the sort of cash reserved only for the game's elite players to keep him on their books.

Consistency has eluded Johnson throughout his career and there remain doubts over whether he is the right man to steer the club to a historic first premiership win.

Mixed form from Johnson throughout the end of year tests did little to change that perception.

The Kiwis lost the series against England after going down narrowly in the first two tests in Hull and Liverpool, in which Johnson, playing at five-eighth, showed touches of class without nailing down an 80 minute performance.

However, he turned in a man of the match effort in the upset win over the Kangaroos in Auckland on October 14 and was a strong performer in Monday's impressive 34-0 rout in the third and final test against England at Leeds.

News Johnson could be on the outer at the Warriors has already piqued the interest of Canberra and there will be no shortage of interest from other rival NRL clubs keen on securing his signature.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

However, Raiders CEO Don Furner earlier this week denied the club had initiated contact while confirming they had received an approach from Brown.

"What happens is the manager rings you up and says would you like Shaun Johnson and 'do you think he would be a good player at your club?' and you don't say no," said Furner.

"Because one, it's disrespectful. But then you go 'great, we'd love a player like that in our team'."

Meanwhile, the Warriors today announced the appointment of former Parramatta and North Sydney junior coach Greg Boulous in a new role as the head coach of the club's Future Warriors' Programme.

"Greg has a wealth of experience in the development of young players through coaching club junior representative teams at the Parramatta Eels and North Sydney Bears," said Warriors general manager of football Brian Smith.

"His long stint as part of the rugby league programme at Westfields Sports High School has enabled him to fully understand the pathways for talented junior players into elite rugby league players.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"He will oversee all FWP coaching, providing and directing specific development plans in the areas of skill and awareness acquisition through to tactical applications for teams and players at Jersey Flegg Cup (under-20) level and for our academy players."

The club also confirmed Junior Mautairi has been appointed FWP's head of physical development, while Jordan Friend has been confirmed as the FWP manager.

Friend's role will include recruitment while also managing the stakeholder relations between players, staff and parents throughout New Zealand from 14 years to Jersey Flegg level.

"Jordan has an extensive knowledge of the game in this country and the people who organise and participate in it at all levels," said Smith.

"He's an incredible resource for our club."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Warriors

Warriors

'We beat ourselves': Webster rues Warriors defeat to depleted Panthers

21 Jun 08:00 PM
Warriors

Understrength Panthers stun Warriors

21 Jun 07:34 AM
Warriors

Warriors defeated by Panthers, 18-28

Help for those helping hardest-hit

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Warriors

'We beat ourselves': Webster rues Warriors defeat to depleted Panthers

'We beat ourselves': Webster rues Warriors defeat to depleted Panthers

21 Jun 08:00 PM

Andrew Webster is confident the Warriors will bounce back next week against the Broncos.

Understrength Panthers stun Warriors

Understrength Panthers stun Warriors

21 Jun 07:34 AM
Warriors defeated by Panthers, 18-28

Warriors defeated by Panthers, 18-28

Ivan Cleary on Andrew Webster, Warriors regrets and building a team first culture

Ivan Cleary on Andrew Webster, Warriors regrets and building a team first culture

20 Jun 05:00 PM
How a Timaru mum of three budding chefs stretched her grocery shop
sponsored

How a Timaru mum of three budding chefs stretched her grocery shop

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP