New Zealand are aiming to inflict yet another big defeat on Australia when they host the Kangaroos on Sunday in Christchurch.
Rugby league is experiencing something of a boom across the ditch, with the game being sold out after two years of the Warriors attracting brilliant crowds.
However, injury to Jahrome Hughes forced new coach Stacey Jones to put out a call to a legend who recently retired from the game.
Jones revealed how he was able to convince Shaun Johnson to come back for one last dance in the Kiwi jumper.
Jones on how he convinced Johnson to return for Kiwis
Speaking on SEN’s Breakfast with Vossy and Brandy, Stacey Jones told the show how he was able to get Shaun Johnson to don the famous black and white jumper for one last time, saying the call didn’t come out of the blue.
“[It had] been an ongoing chat with Shaun, I sort of gave him a heads up [to see] if he’d be interested in it,” Jones said.
“He said ‘you’ve got Jahrome there,’ which we knew but I was just thinking you’ve gotta have a plan A, B and C.
“When the news came to us a couple days after the Grand Final that he [Hughes] needed a rest and his neck was that much in pain, I needed someone that could do the best job as far as getting this team around the field.”
To get the 34-year-old over the line, Jones pointed out how well Johnson played at the back end of the season after announcing he would be retiring, and how it could be the perfect moment to have the fitting send off he deserves in front of his home fans.
“I painted the picture [to] Shuan, ‘you know this is your last chance to come and play some footy at this level,'” Johns remembers telling Johnson.
“‘You’ve had a wonderful year at the back end, what you did against Cronulla [in Johnson’s final match], you went and just enjoyed yourself’.
“That’s what I want from Shaun and he’s doing that, he’s enjoying himself being around this group, there’s not a lot of pressure on him.
“The simple, clear message for him is what Shaun wants, and we’re no trying to confuse him too much. He knows what he wants, and we go with that.”
Johnson has played 32 times for New Zealand over 12 years, including having starring roles in many Four Nations and World Cup campaigns; his NRL career finished with him racking up 268 appearances over two stints at the Warriors and a short spell at Cronulla.
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