Recently I wrote an article about the incomparable French rugby union flanker Jean-Pierre Rives who stated, “he couldn’t help but admire rugby’s most gifted attackers, I love players who can invent something, create something extraordinary and are unpredictable.”
He could have been speaking about Shaun Johnson! A gifted attacker he most certainly was, if you were to assemble all the parts needed to produce the perfect offensive rugby league player, then Shaun Johnson had the lot.
Extreme pace, a mesmerising sidestep, outrageous dummies, the goose-step and a strong fend complete the picture. Add in his goal-kicking and drop kicking and you have one of the most talented players to ever play in the NRL.
To judge a player for their greatness you must view their whole career, not just consider their last season or two.
Pull up a good chair and put on the highlights of Johnson’s career with some of the most freakish tries scored and runs made.
Warriors veteran Shaun Johnson. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Even defensive moves where he used his sheer pace to cut down players destined to score. His brilliance and overall attacking skills are evident in his superb try versus the Brisbane Broncos in 2015, one of the best individual tries seen in the NRL.
His match-winning try against the Cronulla Sharks in 2015 was praised as one of the season’s best too.
There are few players in both league and union who possess the range of skills Johnson was gifted with, Carlos Spencer, Christian Cullen, Benji Marshall, Kalyn Ponga on a good day, Dan Carter was multi-talented but was more orthodox compared to Johnson.
Although we are seeing Shaun Johnson becoming a more conservative player in the twilight of his career, he is producing one of his best seasons in 2023. He had been through a rough patch throughout the past few seasons with injuries and Covid restrictions.
He has been an authoritative figure for the NZ Warriors this season, where his heart has always been. “But a return to New Zealand and a new coach have seemingly saved his career, with Johnson playing his best footy in years to have the Warriors flying high in the top four after one of the gutsiest wins in club history when they came back from 20-0 down to beat the Sharks,” Fox Sports.
Johnson stated, “I love that I get to go home and see my wife and my daughter.”
However, if Johnson is only granted a one-year contract for 2024 he may be open to another move across the Tasman. He has reportedly been contemplating finishing off his NRL career with the Wests Tigers in Sydney but would need an extended contract to justify moving his family again.
At the age of 32 he has options to consider, capping off a glittering career.
Johnson was born in Auckland in 1990, with a Laotian mother and Kiwi father. He was a multi-talented sportsman, playing basketball, rugby union, touch and was even a NZ under-16 rep in Australian rules.
His love was always with league though and after representing the Hibiscus Coast Raiders he was signed for the NZ Warriors in 2009. He came to the attention of Andrew Johns when he played two seasons with the Junior Warriors in the Toyota Cup, Johns singing his praises.
In 2011 he made his NRL debut and then divided his time until now with the NZ Warriors and the Cronulla Sharks, without a winning premiership the only glitch in his career.
Although they came close in 2011, losing to the Manly Sea Eagles in the final, Johnson playing a leading role.
Johnson made his Test debut in 2012 versus Australia at Eden Park and received the Rookie of the Year award. He was the leading points scorer at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and helped to beat England in the semi-final.
One of his prized games was beating Australia in the Anzac Day Test in 2015, which he relayed to his old school Whangaparaoa Primary School on a visit.
In 2014 he won the Golden Boot Award for the best player in the world, brushing off Sam Burgess, Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis in the process. He became NZ league’s highest points scorer in 2017, overhauling Matthew Ridge’s record.
For the Warriors and the Sharks, he has a goal kicking percentage of approximately 77% and has kicked numerous match winning goals.
Johnson at his peak was a freakishly talented footballer who personified attacking, running rugby league. His ability to carve up defences utilising his many skills was a joy to watch. In the latter stages of his career, he is still a dominant figure, but a crowd pleaser in a different way.
Shaun Johnson, one of my favourite rugby league players.
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