Superstar playmaker Shaun Johnson is returning to the international arena for the first time in five years after coming out retirement to replace Dally M winner Jahrome Hughes for the Kiwis.
Hughes was initially named in New Zealand’s 21-man squad for the Pacific Championships against Australia and Tonga but he was ruled out on Thursday with a neck injury picked up late in the Storm’s season.
The 34-year-old Johnson ended his illustrious 268-game NRL career in stunning fashion with a match-winning display in the Warriors’ dramatic last gasp victory over the Sharks on August 31.
Johnson had originally made himself unavailable for the Pacific Championships, but he has answered an SOS call from new Kiwis head coach Stacey Jones.
“On top of all the other withdrawals it was a big setback to lose Jahrome but that has now turned into a real positive with Shaun deciding to step in,” Jones said.
“He originally said he wouldn’t be available after announcing his retirement from the NRL but with Jahrome being ruled out Shaun didn’t hesitate when asked to help out his country.
“He’ll bring so much to the camp through his presence together with his experience and his leadership.”
“On top of all the other withdrawals it was a big setback to lose Jahrome but that has now turned into a real positive with Shaun deciding to step in”
Apart from Hughes the Kiwis are missing six other leading spine options in Dylan Brown (knee), Kieran Foran (ankle), Te Maire Martin (neck), Brandon Smith (knee) and Jeremy Marshall-King (knee), as well as the versatile Joseph Manu, who has switched to rugby union in Japan.
Johnson’s return leaves him set to revive his Test career in the Kiwis’ opening Pacific Championships game against Australia at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on October 27.
Coincidentally it was at the same venue that he played the last of his 32 Tests in the Kiwis’ series-winning 23-8 win over Great Britain in 2019.
A year earlier, he was man-of-the-match in New Zealand’s 26-24 defeat of the Kangaroos at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium.
New Zealand’s second match is against Tonga at Go Media Stadium on November 2 with the final being played at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on November 10.
In announcing the Kiwis squad on Tuesday, Jones said Hughes had been troubled by a neck injury but it was hoped he would recover to be involved in the Tests against the Kangaroos and Tonga.
However, after further medical assessment a devastated Hughes has been told he won’t be fit to play.
“Jahrome is understandably shattered and we really feel for him,” Jones said.
“He has had an outstanding year and he was going to play a key role for the Kiwis again.
“He was desperate to play and we thought, with some time on our side, he would come right with treatment, but he has since received medical advice that he won’t be ready to play.”
