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As he played an impromptu game of touch on the Hibiscus Coast Raiders field with around 30 of the club’s juniors, Shaun Johnson appeared to be in his element.
The Warriors’ halfback was a welcome visitor to a registration session at the Raiders Rugby League Club in Stanmore Bay on February 13.
He remembers well when he registered with the club as a five year old, continuing to play with Raiders right through to senior level.
Especially he recalls running around as a youngster while the seniors played, watched by large numbers of supporters. That was in the early 2000s – in the days when the Bartercard Cup and Fox Memorial Shield competitions drew large numbers to the club. “Those were the best times,” Shaun says.
His return to the club to sign autographs and share time with the kids was part of Auckland Rugby League’s drive to support registrations. The initiative saw more than 30 Warriors team members visit clubs throughout Auckland to provide some inspiration ahead of the junior season kicking off in April.
Shaun was not the only one to return to the club that had nurtured his talent early on.
Auckland Rugby League general manager Greg Whaiapu said that the players enjoyed the opportunity to give something back to the next generation.
Although he was still showing the effects of recent eye surgery to remove growths, Shaun needed little encouragement to lead a game of touch with around 30 excited juniors.
