World Footy News

Rugby League's Auckland Warriors’ Shaun Johnson was nearly lost to AFL when he attracted the interest of scouts in 2006. Having been tagged as the next Benji Marshall he is obviously seen as a huge talent in the 13 a side game.

Now 21, the then 16 year old was playing Australian football for the NZ U 16 side at the Barassi Cup in Canberra. Not only did he play but he received the award as NZ’s best at the international tournament. After the carnival in Canberra, Johnson toured the set-up at the Sydney Swans, who had lost that year's AFL grand final to the West Coast by one point under coach Paul Roos.

"Shaun really liked the game. Playing in the AFL was a definite option for him," Paul Johnson (Shaun’s father) said from his home in Whangaparaoa, north of Auckland.

"He impressed the AFL scouts over here. He was named the most promising player of that tournament and we were told by the other coaches at the carnival if any of the Kiwi kids would make it professionally (in the AFL), it would be Shaun."

"We went on a tour of the Swans headquarters. We met their heavy hitters and went through their gym with the New Zealand under-16 team. It was an awesome experience."

"In the end, we thought unless we moved to Aussie, an AFL career wasn't going to happen for him. Then the Warriors showed interest which meant Shaun could stay at home."

While Johnson has received rave reviews for his attacking skills, his brief stint in Australian Rules proved just as beneficial.

The boom playmaker honed his kicking game at Orewa College under his coach Craig Ashton, who played regularly with NZ Falcons sides, and who is now at the Warriors as kicking coach.

This article is derived form this article.