Marquee Cronulla recruit Shaun Johnson has quickly adapted to living in Australia – but there's one thing the Kiwi ace is still getting used to.

Johnson says the strong language at Sharks training has been the biggest cultural change football-wise, though he's embracing the passion.

"People use a lot more swear words here," Johnson laughed to Sporting News.

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"Just dishing something out on someone, you get some pretty heated conversations.

"But it’s all about winning and you know that you’re getting spoken to from a point of, ‘We just want to win, you need to fix it'."

The added verbal intensity hasn't affected Johnson adversely in the slightest, however: "I was just like, 'Oh, that's how it is!'" he said.

Over the ditch at his former club the Warriors, Johnson explained, there aren't nearly as many angry expletives sprayed around to ram home a message.

“In New Zealand, we're just raised a different way," the international half said.

"You’ve got to work on that – you get your point across, but maybe in a different way.

"[Otherwise] it's all pretty similar, to be fair."

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Away from the footy field, Johnson is enjoying his fresh surroundings in the Sutherland Shire.

The 28-year-old nominated Cronulla's Alphabet St. Thai restaurant as his favourite place to grab a bite, and he checked out famous watering hole Northies last weekend.

But while he's making the most of the beachside lifestyle, Johnson is throwing his energy into ensuring the Sharks sustain their recent success.

He only began training with the club in January but already considers himself among the team's leaders.

"I do. I guess it comes with the position I’m in and just trying to help players around me as well," he said.

"We’ve got a lot of young, good kids."

Johnson sees a parallel between Cronulla and the Warriors with the wealth of emerging talent at both clubs.

And the 2014 Golden Boot winner is taking pride in mentoring baby Sharks like Kyle Flanagan and Bronson Xerri.

“You love watching those [young] people develop their game," he said.

"You look at people like [Warriors backs] David Fusitu'a and Ken Maumalo and how far they’ve come just to be a part of all that.

“Coming over here and having a similar role has been cool."

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Johnson is set to run out as a Shark for the first time on Saturday in a trial against the Newcastle Knights in Maitland.

The fleet-footed playmaker will play five-eighth and reboot his halves partnership with ex-Warriors teammate Chad Townsend.

In New Zealand, the race for Johnson's old No.7 jumper between Adam Keighran and Chanel Harris-Tavita will likely be decided by the Warriors rookies' performances in a hit-out versus the Wests Tigers.

Asked who he thought should get first shot as the club's new halfback, Johnson confidently gave his vote to 19-year-old Harris-Tavita.

“I’ll back Chanel, all day. He’s my boy," Johnson said.

"It’d be awesome to see him get a crack.”