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Waterboy Johnson remembers his league past

Warriors NRL star Shaun Johnson says being a waterboy on his upcoming day off won't the last time he does something with grassroots rugby league teams.

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Source: AAP


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Warriors NRL superstar Shaun Johnson's memories of playing rugby league as a youngster are behind his offer to be a waterboy on his day off.

He says it won't be the last time he does something like this at the game's grassroots.

Johnson has been inundated with replies since posting a message on his Facebook page on Monday night asking if there was a lower-grade team in the Auckland area wanting him to run water for their players this weekend.

By Wednesday morning, there were 9600 responses and 1800 comments, ahead of his decision on Thursday over where he would be heading.

"For me, this isn't going to be the only time I do something like this - it's something I want to start," he said.

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"I put myself in their shoes. I've been those kids and how cool would it have been when I was playing under-nines for someone to come out and run the water for our team."

With the Warriors next in NRL action on Monday when they are away to Melbourne, Johnson is about to have his first Saturday off this season.

The 25-year-old halfback said he was lying on his couch at home wondering what he would do with his free time.

"I wanted to get out, I wanted to hang out with some kids, I wanted to be around some grassroots footy teams - it was pretty simple," he said.

"I wrote the post in the space of five minutes and threw it up.

"To be honest I didn't expect the response I've had from it, so very excited to get out to hopefully what will be a couple of clubs."


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