Warriors fans can expect to see a different Shaun Johnson from last year, one that's injury free and in good condition.

Heading into the 2016 season, Johnson was slowly recovering from a broken ankle, which occurred midway through the previous year.

Although he was back in time for the beginning of last season, the injury was still playing on his mind and he admitted he was carrying niggles throughout the campaign which stopped him ever being in peak condition.

JOHN COWPLAND/ PHOTOSPORT Shaun Johnson is excited about at last beginning a new season at Mt Smart Stadium.

He was criticised last year by league great Brad Fittler, who accused him of not getting involved in the action enough.

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"He needs to get his jersey dirty sometimes," Fittler said last July.

John Cowpland Johnson during Warriors v Titans trial match on February 19.

"I think sometimes he plays off the line a lot, if he comes off (the field) with a dirty jersey they would win a lot."

That assessment of Johnson was harsh, but the former Panthers and Roosters star is unlikely to be able to dish out similar criticism this year as Johnson says he's feeling in much better shape going into the new season.

"[I'm feeling] a lot better," Johnson said.

David Long/ Fairfax NZ Stephen Kearney looks ahead to season opener.

"If you're a bit sore and your body is battered at this time of year, then you're in for a long season.

"The staff have done a great job getting all of us excited, fit and healthy ahead of the season.

"I know for me I can't wait to rip in and haven't felt like this in a long time."

This will be Johnson's seventh season in the NRL and the 26-year-old halfback says he gets excited about going into this one as much as his first.

"I really do," he said.

"It's probably a bit different to when I was younger, there were a few doubts there.

"You're just a kid coming in and you ask yourself if you belong, but now it's more enjoyable.

"I've got confidence in what I'm going to do and I understand my role and what I need to do in the group, so I want to get out there and have fun.

"That thrill and buzz is definitely still there."

The Warriors haven't won their first game of a new season since 2009, but they haven't begun a campaign at Mt Smart Stadium since then either and Johnson hopes there's a connection.

If their trial game against the Titans two weeks ago is anything to go by, the Warriors should be able to start this season well, as they put in a solid performance in the 26-6 win in Palmerston North.

Warriors coach, Stephen Kearney has stuck with the same team from that game and Johnson says they took plenty of positives out of it.

"You play [trials] to get combinations right, put into games what you've been practicing and we were able to do that over the first two trials," he said, also referring to the game against the Storm.

"I know we didn't pick up any points over them, but it gives us a bit of confidence going into round one, that we know what to do and what it looks like."