This season was expected to be his curtain call, with senior figures at the club already planning for life without him next year.
But his early season form was a revelation – and impossible to ignore – which initiated discussions about his future.
It also led to interest from across the Tasman, with the West Tigers tabling a massive two-year deal for the 32-year-old, while it’s believed at least one other NRL club expressed interest in his services.
But Johnson turned down the Tigers’ deal – believed to be in the vicinity of $700,000 a season – saying he wanted to remain in New Zealand and achieve success with the Warriors.
“If I do play, I want it to be here, I don’t want to go somewhere for the wrong reasons,” said Johnson in May. “I just felt like if I was to leave again, it wouldn’t be right. I don’t want to go elsewhere and try to win. I want to win here if I’m playing.”
At this stage, it leaves the Warriors with five halves for next season, with Johnson, Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Ronald Volkman and Chanel Harris-Tavita, though there is expected to be further movement in that area.
The most likely scenario is that Volkman will move on to another club but nothing has been confirmed.
It means Johnson will embark on his 11th season with the Warriors, along with three campaigns at Cronulla between 2019-2021.
“We’ve had ongoing conversations with Shaun about his plans beyond this season,” said Warriors recruitment manager Andrew McFadden.
“The priority for both of us was to let Shaun play, to enjoy his football and to enjoy being back home with his family.
“There was no rush to make a decision, but we’re absolutely delighted to have him with us for another season at the club that means everything to him.”
After making his NRL debut in 2011, Johnson played 162 times for the Warriors until his shock exit at the end of the 2018 season.
He then signed with the Sharks, completing 44 games in an injury interrupted stint, before his return last year.
By his own admission Johnson failed to hit any great heights – in a struggling team – which has made this season all the more remarkable. Only four players across the competition have managed more try assists than his 16 and he has also contributed six tries, the most since 2016 (10).
He’s also the NRL’s dominant kicker with more metres (8965) and kicks (293) than any other player, while he has set new personal standards on defence, with a 93 per cent efficiency rate.
“The way Shaun has gone about his football on and off the field this season has been phenomenal,” said Warriors head coach Andrew Webster. “His leadership and ambition to get better has been the driving factor in his and our success this season.
“He has gone to a completely new level. He had a brilliant offseason and hasn’t slowed down since.
“Everyone can see how happy he is being back home in Auckland and around the club he loves so much.”
Michael Burgess has been a sports journalist since 2005, winning several national awards and covering Olympics, Fifa World Cups and America’s Cup campaigns. A football aficionado, Burgess will never forget the noise that greeted Rory Fallon’s goal against Bahrain in Wellington in 2009.
