Pacific Championships 2024: Shaun Johnson rejects Kiwis SOS call; rookie bolter revealed
Kiwi coach Stacey Jones is preparing to hand a playmaking Test jersey to a rookie against the Kangaroos, after freshly retired halfback Shaun Johnson rejected an SOS call.
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Shaun Johnson has knocked back an SOS call from the Kiwis leaving head coach Stacey Jones short of answers to solve a major half and hooker crisis.
Jones had reached out to the retired Warriors legend in the hope that he could help the Kiwis in their time of need.
Unavailable for New Zealand for the upcoming Pacific Championships are Dylan Brown (knee), Kieran Foran (ankle), Joey Manu (rugby union), Brandon Smith (knee) and Jeremy Marshall-King (knee).
However, after testing his problematic achilles earlier this week, Johnson informed Jones on Friday that he was reluctant to let both him and the Kiwi jersey down by producing what would’ve been one sport’s most short-lived retirements.
Having been appointed Kiwis coach to replace Michael Maguire, Jones is facing a torrid start to his Test coaching career, which includes sweating on the fitness of first-choice halfback from Melbourne, Jahrome Hughes.
Jones is likely to look at getting creative to solve his half and hooker issues which could include handing Titans rising star Keano Kini not only his New Zealand Test debut, but a start in the spine.
A Junior Kiwis representative, Kini was a member of last year’s New Zealand squad for the Pacific Championships, but fell short of being handed his Test debut.
Jones could use Kini at fullback and turn Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad into a makeshift half.
Wellington-born Knights utility Phoenix Crossland is poised to earn a Kiwi call-up with the 24-year-old proving valuable at halfback and hooker this season for Newcastle.
“I’ve spoken to Phoenix and he’s pretty keen to wear the black and white jersey,” Jones told News Corp last week.
The Pacific Championships begins on October 18 at Suncorp Stadium.
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