Player Bio
Johnson's mother is Laotian and his father is a Pākehā (New Zealander of European origin).
From Whangaparaoa, Johnson attended Orewa College and played many sports, including basketball and rugby union, but made his name playing touch and Australian rules football.
Few players have had to deal with as much expectation as Shaun Johnson. While he had previously played rugby league, touch and Australian rules had been his dominant sporting pursuits. Johnson was spotted by the Vodafone Warriors and brought into the NYC squad for the 2009 season, where he played all 25 games and had some judges tipping a big future for him. Playing in the halves, the Orewa College graduate underlined his ability as a creator and finisher as well as being an adept kicker and capable goal kicker. He finished up with 241 points in his debut season and was a critical contributor again in the Vodafone Junior Warriors' NYC premiership-winning campaign in 2010, taking his career tally beyond 400 points in 45 games.
A back injury kept him sidelined at the start of the 2011 season before he made his way back with the Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup. Superb form and an injury to Brett Seymour opened the way for him to make his NRL debut against the Sydney Roosters in round 13. He has gone on to establish himself in the No 7 jersey since then, playing superbly in the club’s finals run in 2011 and consistently worrying opposition defences with his speed and playmaking ability. Johnson is signed with the Vodafone Warriors through until the end of the 2017 season.
From Whangaparaoa, Johnson attended Orewa College and played many sports, including basketball and rugby union, but made his name playing touch and Australian rules football.
Few players have had to deal with as much expectation as Shaun Johnson. While he had previously played rugby league, touch and Australian rules had been his dominant sporting pursuits. Johnson was spotted by the Vodafone Warriors and brought into the NYC squad for the 2009 season, where he played all 25 games and had some judges tipping a big future for him. Playing in the halves, the Orewa College graduate underlined his ability as a creator and finisher as well as being an adept kicker and capable goal kicker. He finished up with 241 points in his debut season and was a critical contributor again in the Vodafone Junior Warriors' NYC premiership-winning campaign in 2010, taking his career tally beyond 400 points in 45 games.
A back injury kept him sidelined at the start of the 2011 season before he made his way back with the Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup. Superb form and an injury to Brett Seymour opened the way for him to make his NRL debut against the Sydney Roosters in round 13. He has gone on to establish himself in the No 7 jersey since then, playing superbly in the club’s finals run in 2011 and consistently worrying opposition defences with his speed and playmaking ability. Johnson is signed with the Vodafone Warriors through until the end of the 2017 season.