DEPARTING Melbourne Storm star Dallas Johnson wants one thing made clear - the dazzle of dollar signs did not sway him to leave the club.
The two-time premiership winning forward, who will join French side Catalans Dragons next season on a three-year contract worth more than $1 million, didn’t even chase the deal.
He had two years of his contract with Storm to run and, without a manager, hadn’t put any feelers out.
But he did have an out-clause to play overseas, which the club knew he wanted to do eventually, and the arrival of an offer earlier than expected was too good to refuse.
"I didn’t walk out on the club. I didn’t know this was going to happen. It wasn’t planned," the former Herberton junior said, speaking for the first time about his departure.
"It came up, and it was too hard to turn down.
"People say it is for the money and the money is there. But for me it was about the experience.
"Everyone wants to work overseas, no matter what their job is.
"It was probably a bit earlier than I wanted, but if I didn’t take an offer now it might never happen again."
The 26-year-old Queensland Origin hero had just landed in London to start a four-week European holiday when the offer came direct from Catalans coach Kevin Walters.
But Johnson, who played all of his 157 NRL games for Melbourne, didn’t reach for a pen straight away.
He agonised over his decision while trying to take in the sights of Spain and Italy, without access to the sounding boards he would normally turn to for advice.
"I don’t do things quickly. I need to talk to people," he said.
"And the thing I am dirty on the most is that I was overseas and couldn’t contact the people I wanted to talk to, especially the boys and the coaching staff. It was too hard being so far away."
Eventually he spoke to Storm coach Craig Bellamy, a huge influence on Johnson, but that didn’t help.
"He made it harder for me. He said I had to do what was best for me," Johnson said.
So he turned to his family, his wife Mel, and former Storm star Matt King, Johnson’s great mate who left Melbourne after the 2007 grand final to join UK club Warrington.
"He (King) was a big part of the decision," Johnson said.
"He struggled early when he moved and I am sure I will struggle early too.
"But he enjoys it now."
After finally deciding he told Bellamy before anyone else at the Storm, which Johnson said was harder than anything he has done.
A face-to-face meeting is planned for next week when Bellamy returns from Europe.
Johnson is also desperate to catch up with his senior teammates when they return from the Kangaroos tour today, to make sure they understand exactly why he is leaving.
"I feel terrible for the way they had to find out, via a text message.
"But it was kind of out of my control because of it all happened so quickly," Johnson said.
"I want face-to-face meetings, to explain my reasons and how everything happened and to say thanks, that’s the big thing.
"Without them and the coaching staff I wouldn’t be in this position, wouldn’t have played Origin, in grand finals. I’ll be forever indebted to them all."
Johnson’s departure was offset somewhat yesterday with confirmation the Storm had signed former Parramatta lock Todd Lowrie, ex-Newcastle speedster Luke MacDougall and John Kite from the Bulldogs.
