KIERSTEN DUKE: Shaun Johnson post-NRL career could take him into coaching or broadcasting like Matthew Johns

Shaun Johnson has the world at his feet as he transitions out of the NRL.

The New Zealand Warriors halfback called time following on his 14 season NRL career this week and will be remembered as being one of the great ambassadors for the sport in the rugby union mad Land of the Long White Cloud.

Will he followed the well-trodden path of becoming coach to pass on his wisdom to the next generation or does a career as media pundit beckon? Only time will tell.

Johnson’s retirement is more a result of his ongoing battle with injury than a lack of passion for the game. The veteran playmaker narrowly missed on the Dally M Medal last year after all.

But this year Johnson has been hampered by an Achilles injury and while doing his best to nurse himself back to full health at the end of the day there’s only so much you can do when your aging body starts failing you.

At 33-years-old, how far would you continue to push your body? I’m 27 and I can barely walk up the three flights of stairs to my apartment.

When you’ve achieved as much as SJ has, there’s nothing left to prove.

Last week he made his 265th NRL appearance, his 221st for the Warriors. He currently sits fourth on the list of all time appearances for the Warriors, not too shabby an effort.

Some of my favourite SJ moments came last year during the 2023 season where he seemed to find dazzling form, steering his team to the preliminary final before getting trounced 42-12 to Brisbane.

Some glittering performances in 2023 saw him come close to winning the Dally M medal only to be pipped by Kalyn Ponga in the final round by just one point.

Ponga made a freak final run, but I think it came as a surprise to us all when he swiped away the crown just moments before it touched Johnson’s head.

It was controversial but that’s what I love about this sport. It’s simply unpredictable at times.

I think one of Shaun Johnson’s biggest achievements hasn’t been one that can be rewarded by a medal.

In fact, it’s rewarded in smiles. Smiles from young fans watching this man play.

His charisma, humility and talent has seen him become one of the main faces in the NRL and the poster boy for rugby league in New Zealand.

His showmanship has captured the eyes of many, but most importantly it’s captured the hearts of young fans.

Thanks to him, there’s an entire generation of Kiwi kids who have picked up a rugby league ball and not a rugby union one.

In one of the NRL’s final frontiers that counts for more than points on a scoreboard.

So what’s next for New Zealand’s cheeky chap? He’s inspired many young lives already so will he carry on with this by taking on a coaching role perhaps?

His approachable demeaner and talent on game day would make him the ultimate addition to any coaching squad.

They do say however that it’s far from ideal attempting to coach people you’ve played with. The relationship is just too friendly making it awkward to give advice.

A media role could be the perfect fit. After all, we saw on the Dally M red carpet that the man is far from camera shy. But hey, can you blame him, the camera practically throws itself at him.

Plenty of professional athletes have found themselves in media roles following their sporting careers and rightly so, they provide viewers with some of the best insights available.

Johnson loves a bit of banter which would make him the perfect fit for many TV shows or podcasts. Hey, Matty Johns has made a career out of his wit, why can’t SJ?

I’m certain Johnson doesn’t know me from a bar of soap but SJ, if you’re reading this, hit me up to start a podcast before Fox Sports snap you up. I’m not as funny as you, but we can make it work.