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: Shaun Johnson has 'nothing bad to say' about Warriors as he arrives at Sharks

David Skipwith
By David Skipwith
Reporter·NZ Herald·
6 Dec, 2018 06:15 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

Kane Williamson scores 19th century in test cricket, the secondary schools rugby saga continues and Joesph Parker gives his take on the Fury vs Wilder fight.

New Cronulla playmaker Shaun Johnson has declined the chance to hit back at the Warriors following his bitter exit from the Auckland-based NRL club.

The new Sharks signing refused to take the bait when asked how he felt after Warriors CEO Cameron George took aim at the Kiwi international last week following news the club had released Johnson from the final year of his contract.

After announcing both parties would go their separate ways, George alluded to Johnson's inconsistent form as one of the main reasons why the Warriors had held off on offering him a contract extension beyond 2019.

But Johnson, speaking to Sydney media for the first time since inking a three-year deal with Cronulla last week, said he only had fond memories of his time at Mt Smart Stadium and is looking forward to making himself at home in the Sutherland Shire.

Shaun Johnson speaks to media. Photo / Getty
Shaun Johnson speaks to media. Photo / Getty
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"They can say what they want. Both parties are happy with how it ended and I've got nothing bad to say about the club," said Johnson.

"I had eight years there where I got to live out a dream I'd had since I was a kid.

"It was a bit of an emotional time but all I'm looking forward to is coming over here and just playing some good footy for the Sharks and immersing myself in the community, and getting out and seeing some kids.

"I've already had people drive past and throw out the shaka's to me so it's all really exciting now."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

In the lead up to his split with the Warriors, the former Golden Boot winner stirred controversy after taking to social media to let fans know he was taking the opportunity to "spread my wings" after the club had publically announced in October that he was free to test his value on the open market.

Johnson justified his Facebook post from November 26, which came a day before he demanded a release from the Warriors, and his subsequent release last Wednesday.

Afternoon team! After reading through a few of your comments on my last post I thought its best I clear a couple things...

Posted by Shaun Johnson on Sunday, November 25, 2018

"I just saw what was being said, and I know sometimes in the media things can get twisted a little bit, so I just said, 'well, I'll put it out in my own words and people can take it however they want'", he said.

"I was just saying it from my side what was actually happening from my point of view."

After eight years at the Warriors, the 162-game veteran admitted it will feel strange to line up against his good friends and former teammates when the Sharks take on his old team next season.

Discover more

Warriors

Warriors turn down replacement for Shaun Johnson

03 Dec 10:34 PM
Warriors

Warriors captain rubbishes Shaun Johnson rumour

05 Dec 01:00 AM
Warriors

'We didn't expect it': Warriors shed more light on Johnson saga

05 Dec 04:00 PM
League

NRL star charged with assaulting woman

06 Dec 06:56 PM

The Warriors will host Cronulla in round 18, but Johnson will be denied a homecoming appearance with the match being held at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on July 19, before the two sides meet again five weeks later at Shark Park on August 24.

"It's going to be weird. I think a lot of people expect me to give the answer where you say 'it'll be fine', but no, it's going to be weird as.

"I've got some good mates there, some boys that I've seen develop into full-blooded first graders that you're around every day for a long time, so it's going to be really weird.

"But at the same time I know they're going to be feeling the same, so they'll be getting stuck into me and I'll be giving just as much back and it will be a good game of footy to watch I think."

Sharks recruit Shaun Johnson fronted the Media this morning for the first time in his new colours. See what he had to say

WATCH NOW
📽 // https://t.co/D49Ar6gXbw#UpUpCronulla pic.twitter.com/vlhJwlPqVG

— Cronulla Sharks (@cronullasharks) December 6, 2018

Johnson today made an appearance at Sharks training and is taking a couple of days to organise things with his new club, but will return to New Zealand for Christmas before relocating to Sydney in the New Year.

His close friendship with Sharks halfback and former Warriors teammate Chad Townsend, and the attraction of slotting into one of the NRL's heavyweight sides were factors in him deciding to join the 2016 premiers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Coach Shane Flanagan is expected to move the versatile Matt Moylan from five-eighth back to fullback to allow Johnson to fill the No 6 role, and Johnson is looking forward to adding some flair to the Sharks rugged style.

"From afar, I've always really admired how tough they are. They're tough and they like to throw the footy around and so I think I can add value there.

"I really enjoyed my time playing with Chad, so he was another big reason why I wanted to head down this way."

After training and playing at Penrose base since his days in the Warriors Under 20s side, Cronulla's sun-drenched beachside lifestyle also holds plenty of appeal for the Orewa-raised Hibiscus Coast Raiders junior.

"I didn't know too much about Cronulla, and then get here and see the style of living, the beach and good weather, it's all pretty exciting."

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