Last night the face of the game in New Zealand became the face of the NRL, hand-picked alongside Greg Inglis to launch the 2015 season at a glitzy function at Shed 10 on Auckland's waterfront.
Johnson described the appointment as a "massive privilege" - but it hasn't always worked out like that. In fact, opening ceremony duties have proved somewhat of a curse for some of the game's biggest names. Former Kiwis captain and Aussie media darling Benji Marshall fell victim to the "curse" in 2011 when he was charged with assault (he was later acquitted) for a late-night confrontation at a McDonald's restaurant shortly before the first match of the season. Two seasons earlier, Manly fullback Brett Stewart was accused of sexual assault following a team function, resulting in the NRL pulling advertising in which he featured heavily. Stewart was also acquitted but only after a highly public trial.
In 2013, champion Bulldogs fullback Ben Barba was to open the show, only for the reigning Dally M Medal-holder to be stood down by his club two days before the launch for behavioural issues.
Last year the NRL plumped for squeaky clean veteran Anthony Minichiello. In Johnson they have chosen not only a fresh face but an equally safe pair of hands.
"I know what is right and what is wrong," he said earlier this week. "Hopefully me saying that doesn't come back and bite me in the butt down the track - you guys will use that!"
He's right about that.
Johnson, though, doesn't appear to have too much to worry about.
"He hasn't got too many skeletons in the closet," says his coach Andrew McFadden. "He's a very good kid and I'm sure he'll represent the NRL really well."
Johnson shrugs off the notion that the pressures that come with his rising profile may begin to take their toll.
"I'm not that big," he said. "I'm still just a kid from Whangaparaoa who lives in New Zealand."
Even so, life is changing.
"I find myself getting recognised a bit more, going out in public getting stopped a bit more and talked to a bit more. I enjoy it.
"The biggest buzz to me is the kids. I still get buzzed out when I see a kid that is 5 or 6-years-old recognise me. I just try to make some time for him and stop and have a chat, even just say hello. It has been awesome," Johnson said.
"I'm around my family all the time and I have got really close friends. So far so good."
Johnson picked up the accolade for the being the most valuable player of last year's nines tournament despite the Warriors being eliminated in the semifinals. This year there is widespread expectation he can lead the club to glory.
"I like that expectation," he said. "That shows that people believe in you and that you can do something, can be someone. I get excited by that.
"And I'm so stoked that they've finally got something like this [tournament] going [in Auckland]. To be a part of it and trying to build the profile of it is pretty cool too. It's an awesome weekend."
NRL's publicity curse
2009: A TV commercial promoting the forthcoming NRL season featuring Brett Stewart is pulled from the air after the star Manly fullback is charged with sexual assault following the club's season launch. Stewart was suspended by the NRL for drunkenness but later acquitted of the sexual assault charge.
2011: Kiwis captain Benji Marshall was considered a safe pair of hands for the 2011 season launch, however shortly before the first match of the season he was charged with assault for his part in a late night altercation at Sydney McDonald's. Marshall was found not guilty.
2013: With his scorching form leading the Bulldogs to an appearance in the 2012 grand final, Dally M Medal-holder Ben Barba was the hottest property in the game heading into 2013. He scored a hat-trick in the All Star game, however just two days before he was to open the season at the NRL launch, Barba was suspended by his club for behavioural issues.
