Retiring Warriors star Shaun Johnson admits he is going to be “gutted” when the full-time siren rings at Go Media Stadium on Friday night, which will mark the end of his final ever home game in New Zealand.
Johnson will hang up the boots at the end of this season, with Friday night’s clash against the Bulldogs the Warriors’ last home game of 2024.
The star halfback is considered one of the greatest ever players to pull on a Warriors jersey. The Bulldogs clash will be Johnson’s 90th and final NRL game at Go Media Stadium, Auckland (formerly Mt Smart Stadium).
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From the 89 games he’s played there, Johnson has won 56 and lost 32 (one draw).
Johnson reflected on his career in a press conference this week, as well as looking towards his New Zealand swan song.
“It’s a bit of a weird sort of feeling. I actually don’t like to think about it to be honest … I’ll just miss it,” he said.
“I have family coming back from Australia for it, family coming up from Christchurch for it so it’s definitely going to be a moment that we’ll cherish as a family but for me it’s going to be sad. I’m going to be gutted.
“There’s a high level of appreciation for the support we’ve received as a team week in week out.
“A lot of the people who sit in the stands have been there since I came to the club and there’s faces I recognise every week. That’s not lost on me that support.
“Once we get into the game, I won’t be thinking about anything other about trying to do what we need to win.
“I’ll get to walk out with my girls so that’ll be a special moment for us, but once that’s done, it’s go time.”
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In ten seasons with the Warriors, across two separate stints, the Auckland product has provided plenty of outstanding moments for the New Zealand club throughout 222 games.
In his debut NRL season (2011), he helped guide the Warriors to a grand final. Just last season, he went so close to capturing a Dally M Player of the Year medal, only beaten after a freak late season run from Knights star Kalyn Ponga, who won the count over Johnson by just one vote.
Johnson told reporters that since he announced his retirement, it has dawned on him just how impactful his career was to many in New Zealand.
“It’s surreal even right now to think back on the journey. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect since I announced my retirement and it still baffles me that I’ve been able to do what I’ve done and create the memories that I’ve been able to create,” Johnson said.
“I guess the big part to it all is hearing the stories from fans or kids that were a certain age when I did a certain thing at some point of my career, and them telling me how I’ve impacted their life and how they’ve been on this journey with me the whole time.
“For me, it still doesn’t feel real that I’m done after the next couple of games.”
In addition to Johnson, star prop Addin Fonua-Blake and utility Jazz Tevaga will also play their final home game for the Warriors on Friday night.
Source Agencies
