The Kiwis arrived in the Queensland capital on Monday, with Johnson and Kieran Foran sharing a room on the seventh floor of their inner city hotel.
The halves combination spent a lot of time in their chambers, as touring sports teams tend to do, and realised they had both decided enough was enough – they were fed up with being second best to the Australians.
"It's been a really good week for me and Foz (Foran)," said Johnson. "We were room mates and we spoke about it [a lot]; every second we got we would remind each other that we are sick of losing. The frustration had been building [and] we just wanted to beat them."
Despite making his debut way in 2009 Foran had never tasted victory in a transtasman match, while the 24-year-old Johnson had experienced only defeat from four attempts. But they felt something was building. Foran led a depleted team to a strong effort in last year's Anzac test, and Johnson was the main man during the 30-18 defeat in May.
Coming into this campaign, the resolve was clear; no more 'if onlys'; no more 'what ifs'.
"This was the first camp I have been in where I genuinely felt we could beat them," said Johnson. "There was no surprises going in at half time [at 12-12]. [The feeling was] 'we have earnt this' and now we have the proof that we can back it up."
The halves duo played like men on a mission on Saturday night. Foran was everywhere – remember, he was the only chaser of a first half bomb that was split by Greg Inglis, a key moment – and his direction allowed the Warriors player a freer role.
Johnson was on song from the start with some scything runs and a well placed 40/20. He was a constant threat on the edges, scored a well taken try, kicked his goals with confidence and his huge spiralling bombs tormented Dylan Walker in the second half. Indeed, Walker's plight brought back memories of Darren Lockyer's nightmare debut for Australia in 1998 at North Harbour Stadium, when the Broncos legend also endured a mistake riddled night as an injury replacement at fullback.
"He was certainly a target for us, seeing Walker back there on his debut," said Johnson. "We had to test him out and we got a result a couple of times."
The halfback identified the second quarter as the turning point of the game.
"We finished off the half really well," said Johnson. "And then the start of the second half set the tone. They are key moments in any game you play in."
Johnson rated the match his best in a Kiwis jersey -- "the fact we won helps" -- but was quick to put his performance in perspective.
"[The forwards] were awesome," said Johnson. "There has been a lot of talk about how I played but there is no way I can do that if they are not doing what they did. [And it] wasn't just in attack -- in defence they were hunting together, they were up in their faces, frustrating [the Australians] ... it was great to see."
The Kiwis celebrations were fairly understated last night -- they don't want to get carried away and also had an early morning flight home -- but Johnson and Foran could reflect on a job well done.
"We came in last night and sat down in the room and were just satisfied," said Johnson.
As is the league nation.
- By Michael Burgess of the Herald on Sunday
