Farewell appearances have peppered the landscape for Shaun Johnson over the last 10 weeks but it’s definitely the last stop, the final goodbye, when he ends his playing days at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Sunday.
The 34-year-old One New Zealand Warriors legend has been named in an unchanged lineup for the Kiwis’ Pacific Championships clash against Papua New Guinea.
It wasn’t the way he or his teammates ever wanted their title defence to end when they fell to a shattering 24-25 loss to Tonga in a dramatic and riveting contest at Go Media Stadium last Saturday.
Sporting romantics would have longed for Johnson to play his 35th and last Test in the final against the Kangaroos; but for a last-minute bunker blunder he would have been.
Now, instead of taking on the team he faced in his debut Test in 2012, Johnson’s final international is against the Kumuls.
It will be just the second time he has lined up against Papua New Guinea, 11 years after the first when he kicked eight goals in the Kiwis’ 56-10 win at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
Tonga and Kiwis deliver a Test for the ages
It so happens the Kiwis are staying at the Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach, the same accommodation the One New Zealand Warriors used when Johnson played his 268th and final NRL match against his previous club side Cronulla Sutherland on August 31. Everyone knows what happened that night.
Now the man who holds the points-scoring records for both the Kiwis and the Warriors is setting himself for his fifth farewell outing in short order.
The first was on August 23 when he ran out – tearfully – onto a sold-out Go Media Stadium for his last appearance for the Warriors on his beloved home ground in front of adoring fans who saluted him. That was it, or so everyone thought.
Eight days later it was the final game of his NRL career at his only other home ground when he produced arguably the most freakish play of the season to put Dallin Watene-Zeleniak over for a scarcely believable match winner. That was meant to be it. Retirement was next.
And then came a call from Kiwi coach Stacey Jones, needing help with a raft of halves ruled out through injury. Johnson was never going to turn him down in a time of need.
He may have been in retirement mode for a few weeks but he quickly set about tuning up for one last – totally unexpected – ride.
In a twist his return for Test #33 was at the same ground – Apollo Projects Stadium – where he had played his last international in a 23-8 win over Great Britain in 2019.
In a tough battle the Kangaroos held off the Kiwis 22-10 but Johnson was involved in both of New Zealand’s tries for wingers Jamayne Isaako and Will Warbrick.
Back to Auckland for a bonus farewell outing on Go Media Stadium in what turned into one of the most extraordinary Test matches ever seen.
For Johnson it began before kick-off as he waved to his family during the New Zealand anthem.
The first half was bleak but he had a hand in providing some hope with his involvement in the lead-up to Isaiah Papali’i’s try from dummy half just before halftime. After the break his sweet pass sent Keano Kini over, he handled twice (including the final pass) for the breathtaking try finished by Phoenix Crossland and he also had a hand in the last tackle play that produced Joseph Tapine’s extraordinary try. His defensive work was impressive, too, missing just one tackle and coming up with an inspirational tackle to halt a flying Sione Katoa when he was in the clear.
His last involvement on the field was laced with controversy. Set for a field goal to tie the game up, he danced to avoid an advancing Eli Katoa – who seemed to be well offside – and then had his shot blocked by Jason Taumalolo. The Kiwis challenged the play, asking whether the markers were square and also wanting a check for an attack on Johnson’s legs.
The second was cleared by the bunker, the first wasn’t investigated at all with subsequent analysis proving Katoa wasn’t square and gained an unfair advantage to put pressure on Johnson. It ought to have resulted in a penalty in front of the posts and, with it, a 26-25 win for New Zealand.
It was a galling end to Johnson’s final fling at Go Media Stadium but afterwards he still soaked it up, lying down on the field, looking around him. Capturing the moment.
That was Test #34, one never to be forgotten.
Now for Test #35, moving him up to 13th equal on the Kiwis’ list of Test appearances. He’ll finish level with the late Quentin Pongia and winger Sean Hoppe.
NZ KIWIS v PAPUA NEW GUINEA
CommBank Stadium, Sydney
6.20pm, Sunday, November 10, 2024
1 Keano Kini
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Matthew Timoko
4 Peta Hiku
5 William Warbrick
6 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
7 Shaun Johnson
8 James Fisher-Harris (c)
9 Phoenix Crossland
10 Joseph Tapine
11 Isaiah Papali’i
12 Scott Sorensen
13 Naufahu Whyte
14 Kodi Nikorima
15 Griffin Neame
16 Marata Niukore
17 Leo Thompson
18 Erin Clark
19 Jordan Riki
20 Casey McLean
21 Trent Toelau
