Shaun Johnson’s glittering rugby league career might have one final chapter after all.
Just weeks after the celebrated halfback bid farewell to the NRL by setting up a last-gasp winning try for the Warriors, New Zealand’s national coach and Kiwi legend Stacey Jones revealed a spate of injuries in the halves prompted him to make an SOS call to the 34-year old to pull on the jersey again later this year.
While Jones admits a recall is ‘a bit of a long shot’, but says Johnson playing another match for New Zealand for the first time since 2019 remains a distinct possibility – especially if the reigning Pacific Champions suffer more injuries.
Jones is working with a severely depleted squad for the series, which starts in mid-October.
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Joey Manu will not be available as his rugby union switch begins, while Dylan Brown, Kieran Foran, Jeremy Marshall-King and Dylan Brown are also sidelined.
“I have spoken to Shaun, I said if we get more injuries would you consider?” Jones told Newstalk ZB.
“I haven’t ruled it out, he hasn’t ruled it out… I know where Shaun is at and I’m not going to put a huge amount of pressure on him.
“I have just told Shaun, I know where you are at and I know where you sit in my mind.”
Jones later told The Daily Telegraph Johnson is open to answering the cal.
“With Dylan Brown, Brandon Smith, Jeremy Marshall-King and Kieran Foran needing surgery, we’re searching for options now,” Jones said.
(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
“I’ve certainly entertained the idea… he’s [Johnson] decided to retire and his last game was his last game, but has said to me that I can give him a call.
“I’ve only had brief conversations with Shaun, but in the next week or so, we’ll catch up. He said he’d keep himself training, so we’ll talk more in depth when the time comes.”
Johnson is New Zealand’s leading Test points-scorer, with 223 – including 14 tries – in 32 Tests between 2012 and 2019.
Alongside Johnson, Knights halfback Phoenix Crossland, who was born in Wellington, is also in the frame to make his Test debut.
Australia, too, have injury issues, with Valentine Holmes all but certain to miss the tournament after suffering a suspected broken leg in the dying minutes of the Cowboys’ semi final loss to the Sharks.
The Kiwis take on the Kangaroos in a rematch of last year’s shock final win in their first Pacific Championships match on October 27, while Australia’s first match in the five-team tournament is on October 18 against Tonga.
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