Cullen elects netball in NZ over Australia

Shaun Johnson's departure for Sydney won't mean his Silver Ferns fiancee Kayla Cullen takes her netball services across the Tasman.

Seasoned Warriors playmaker Johnson signed a three-year NRL deal with the Cronulla Sharks last week, fuelling speculation Cullen would seek to link with an Australian Super Netball side.

The pair became engaged in May.

However, her Auckland-based Northern Stars club confirmed to AAP that 26-year-old Cullen will honour a contract in next year's Kiwis domestic league.

The 47-Test veteran won't make the same move as Silver Ferns great Maria Folau, who tired of the demands of playing domestic netball in Auckland while based in Sydney with husband and Wallabies star Israel Folau.

She was granted an exemption from Netball New Zealand to play in Australia and signed for the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Cullen will hope to return to the court in 2019 after a serious knee injury before the Commonwealth Games sidelined her for the rest of the year.

Cullen last week voiced her support for Johnson's shift to the Sharks, offering another hint that the Kiwis halfback is ending his eight-season Warriors tenure on poor terms.

"So happy to see you sign with an amazing club that supports you and your dreams!" she wrote.