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Former NRL star Shaun Johnson recently shared an embarrassing blunder he experienced during his child’s parent-teacher conference. Known for his articulate presence on Sky Sports in New Zealand, where he hosts his own show, Johnson’s on-air confidence seemed to evaporate in the school setting.
Having retired in 2024, Johnson transitioned from the rugby field to television, quickly becoming a prominent figure in the sports broadcasting world. Despite his usual smooth delivery in front of the camera, the transition didn’t quite translate during his daughter’s school event.
Johnson found himself attending the parent-teacher meeting solo, stepping in for his wife Kayla, who was occupied with their newborn. This unexpected role reversal caught him off guard, leading to an awkward moment that the TV personality is unlikely to forget anytime soon.
He has become known for his smooth talk behind the microphone on broadcasts – but that deserted him at his daughter’s school.
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?”‘Â
Johnson was left absolutely kicking himself.Â
‘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. Â
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.Â
‘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.