Melbourne Storm star Dallas Johnson makes one thing clear - the lure of big money did not sway him to leave the club.

© Melbourne Storm

Johnson says he's moving for the life experience

The two-time premiership winning forward, who will join French side Catalans Dragons next season on a three-year, $1 million-plus contract, did not even chase the deal.

He had two years to run on his Storm contract and, as his own manager, had not put out feelers.
But the club knew he wanted to play overseas, and the earlier-than-expected offer was too good to refuse.

"I didn't know this was going to happen. It wasn't planned," Johnson said.

"People say it is for the money, but for me it was about the experience.

"Everyone wants to work overseas, no matter what their job is.

"If I didn't take an offer now, it might never happen again."

The 26-year-old was in London for a four-week European holiday when the offer came direct from Catalans coach Kevin Walters.

But Johnson, a Storm life member with all his 157 NRL games at the club, did not immediately reach for a pen.

He agonised over his decision while touring Spain and Italy, far away from the sounding boards he usually asks 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 did not help.

"He made it harder for me. He said I had to do what was best for me. He didn't say go, and he didn't say stay," 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 British 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."

Johnson told Bellamy before anyone else at Storm, which he said was harder than anything he had done.

"Over the phone you can't get across the appreciation I have for what he has done for me," Johnson said.

A face-to-face meeting is planned for next week when Bellamy returns from Europe.

Johnson is also desperate to catch up with his teammates when they return from the Kangaroos tour on Wednesday, to make sure they understand exactly why he is leaving.

"I feel terrible for the way they found out via a text message, but it was kind of out of my control because 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."