‘All-time class act’: Shaun Johnson’s hilarious reaction to boos

Retiring New Zealand Warriors legend Shaun Johnson has responded to a brutal send off from Manly fans in hilarious fashion.

Shaun Johnson was loving it. Photo: Fox Sports

New Zealand Warriors great Shaun Johnson has kicked off his farewell tour with a hilarious interview moment at halftime in the clash against the Sea Eagles on Friday night.

The Sea Eagles continued their charge to the NRL finals with a 24-10 win over the Warriors, rising to fifth on the NRL ladder and five points ahead of the Dolphins and Dragons in eighth and ninth respectively.

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But with the Warriors season essentially buried, Johnson, who announced his retirement last week, was enjoying every moment of his final games of first-grade rugby league.

At halftime, the Warriors had drawn level at 10-all, with Johnson responsible for the visitors’ opening try.

Speaking to Fox League’s Lara Pitt, Johnson was showered with boos by the parochial Sea Eagles fans.

Asked how he felt about the first 40 minutes, Johnson said: “It was exactly what we thought it was going to be. Back and forth, both sides playing good footy.

“But it’s a cool place to come and play. I haven’t been here in a while and this is as good as gets anywhere around the world. So we’re loving it.”

As he approached the sideline, the booing got loud, with Pitt pointing it out.

“Yeah, I love youse too,” Johnson said, waving at the crowd.

At full-time, Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was asked about Johnson.

“I love that fella — he’s a generational player and to be watching him and to be rubbing shoulders with him, it’s amazing,” he said.

“It’s a every kid’s dream and he deserves his flowers. We just want to send him out on a high.”

With Johnson to play his last match in New Zealand next week against the Bulldogs, coach Andrew Webster said the great “won’t want to make it about him”.

“I think the fans are going to make it about Shaun, which will be the best thing and they’ll really celebrate him,” Webster said.

“I really hope we win for Shaun and the fans and just for the jersey, it’s really important.”

@CamMagicMan on X said it best, tweeting: “Shaun Johnson waving to the Brookie crowd... appreciates the boo’s. It’s why he has been my favourite non Manly player. An all time Class Act. No boos from me... Just Huge.”

Ultimately it was a mixed game for the Warriors’ halfback as the Sea Eagles responded in the second half to take home the two points and almost book in their place in the finals.

Johnson ran 20 times for 117m, including a linebreak, and doing most of the kicking, but he also had three errors.

Shaun Johnson was loving it. Photo: Fox Sports

In what could have been a banana skin game for Manly, fullback Tom Trbojevic ensured the Sea Eagles made no mistake.

Trbojevic ran 197m, made six tackle breaks, two line break assists and two try assists in a performance that will send alarm bells up at potential finals opponents.

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans said Trbojevic’s “running game and pass selection was awesome.”

“You’re not going to hear me talking too poorly about Tom Trbojevic. I love him as my fullback … both sides of the ball. His defensive stuff tonight was [also] elite,” Cherry-Evans said.

“He’s in a bit of a hot spot at the moment so we’ll just encourage him to keep playing.”

There were concerns in the second half when Trbojevic clutched at what appeared to be a pec injury.

It was adjudged to be a cork and in the post-match press conference Anthony Seibold said there was no issue.

With Matt Cleary, NewsWire