Footy Legend-Turned-TV Star Hilariously Admits Feeling ‘Dumbest’ at First Parent-Teacher Night

Since retiring in 2024, Johnson has transitioned into a prominent role in the rugby league community as a broadcaster for Sky Sports in New Zealand, hosting his own show and working full-time.

Despite being renowned for his eloquent speech on air, Johnson found himself at a loss for words during the meeting at his daughter’s school.

Johnson attended the parent-teacher night as a substitute for his wife Kayla, who was occupied with caring for their newborn second child.

Johnson appeared at the parent-teacher night as a fill-in, due to his wife Kayla looking after the couple’s recently born second child.

The former NRL star’s stint off the bench was going well until he misread a word his daughter’s teacher said as she explained his daughter’s learning plan.

‘I go, “What’s a slopping stick?”‘ Johnson told the Play On Sport Show he hosts with Marc Peard and Brooke Ruscoe.

Shaun Johnson (pictured) has revealed the cringeworthy moment he had at parent-teacher night at his daughter’s school

The Warriors legend (pictured with his wife and two children) made himself look silly in front of his daughter’s teacher

 ‘And she looks at me exactly like you just did, Marc,’ the New Zealand legend added.

‘I go, “Yeah, slopping stick, what’s that?”

‘And she goes, “Don’t you mean a sloping stick?”‘ 

Johnson was left absolutely kicking himself. 

‘I went, “Oh my god, honestly bro, I’m the dumbest human in the world, lad,”‘ he said.

‘Bro, I just went like, f****ng knock me out bro, please, and wake me up later. Have I just done this at a primary school parent-teachers interview?

‘She’s looked at me and said, “There is no hope for your daughter.”‘

The clip of Johnson telling the hilarious story has amassed more than 160,000 views on Instagram.  

Johnson (pictured at the 2025 NRL season opener at Las vegas) will be one of the faces of Sky Sports’ NRL coverage in 2026

The New Zealand Test champion (pictured with wife Kayla) is seen as one of the game’s greatest-ever players

Fans of the show haven’t missed their chance to have a crack at the former Warriors and Sharks halfback. 

‘Nah but can you imagine the teacher retelling that story to her family,’ one social media user wrote.

‘5 foot 9 and 2 brain cells, unreal,’ another said.

Johnson was one of the game’s biggest talents as he racked up 268 games from 2011 until his retirement in 2024.

The Warriors and Sharks star won the Golden Boot award in 2014 as the world’s best player.