Andrew Johns

For the British triathlete, seeAndrew Johns (triathlete).For the British sound engineer and record producer, seeAndy Johns.

Andrew "Joey" Johns

Personal information
Full name	Andrew Gary Johns
Born	(1974-05-19)19 May 1974 Cessnock,New South Wales,Australia
Playing information
Height	179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	89 kg (14 st 0 lb)
Position	Halfback,Hooker
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1993–2007 Newcastle Knights 249 80 917 22 2176 2005 Warrington Wolves 3 1 12 1 29 Total 252 81 929 23 2205 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1995–2003 Country Origin 3 1 7 0 18 1995–2005 New South Wales 23 4 37 4 94 1995–2006 Australia 26 12 89 0 226
Source:

Andrew Gary Johns(born 19 May 1974), also known by the nicknameJoey,is an Australian former professionalrugby leaguefootballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s.Johns captained theNewcastle Knightsin theNational Rugby Leagueand participated in the team's only two premiership victories in1997and2001,playing a club record 249 games for the Knights.Johns also represented his country at twoWorld Cups,and on oneKangaroo tour,playing in total 21 Test matches for thenational side.He played in 23State of Origin seriesmatches for theNew South Wales Blues(captaining the side to a series win in 2003), and played for theCountry Originside in 1995 and 2003.

Johns announced his retirement from rugby league on 10 April 2007 at the age of 32. This followed a long run of injuries, the last of which was abulging discin his neck which forced his retirement due to the risk of serious spinal injury from further heavy contact.Andrew Johns is one of only four players to have won theGolden Boot Awardmore than once and is one of only two players to have won theDally M Medalfor best player in the NRL three times. He finished his career as the highest points scorer in Australian first-grade premiership history with 2,176 points.

In 2008, less than a year into his retirement, Johns was named as the Greatest Player of the last 30 yearsby the publication 'Rugby League Week', beating the likes of Queensland legendWally Lewis(voted #2), fellow NSW starBrad Fittler(voted #3) and then former Queensland and Australian captainDarren Lockyer(voted #4). On 28 September 2012, Johns was named as the eighth'Immortal'of rugby league.

Football career

Early days

Andrew Johns began playing junior rugby league in his home town ofCessnock,New South Walesfor theCessnock Goannas.At an early age it was evident he had plenty of playing ability and Johns joined theNewcastle Knightsjunior ranks at age 15 in 1989.

Four years later, at 19, the opportunity at first grade presented itself as Johns was tested off the bench during the1993 seasonin a handful of games. The following year in the last pre-season trial for the1994 season,Matthew Rodwell,Newcastle's then-regularhalfbacksustained a knee injury handing Johns his opportunity.

Subsequently, he was named in the starting line-up against theSouth Sydney Rabbitohsand in his début match made an immediate impact as he amassed 23 points and won the Man of the Match award. He soon formed a winning partnership with his older brother,Matthew,who had playedfive-eighthat the Knights since 1991.

1995–2001

The1995 ARL seasonsaw prosperous times for Johns, as in the absence ofSuper League-aligned players, he was selected for the first time to representNew South Walesin the1995 State of Origin series.Incumbent New South WaleshalfbackRicky Stuartwas not selected due to his affiliation with Super League. Also that year he was able to make his début for theKangaroosin Australia's successful1995 World Cupcampaign inEngland.He played as ahookerand was named man of the match inthe decideragainstEnglandatWembley Stadiumas Australia once again retained the World Cup.

At the conclusion of the World Cup, Johns was awarded his first significant accolade, being named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. The following year Johns was moved tohookerfor the State of Origin, with New South Wales selectors favouringGeoff Tooveyin thehalfbackrole.Since then, Johns was regularly chosen for state and national representative sides when fit, only missing out on a Blues or Australian cap due to injury.

During the1997 ARL seasonJohns played a pivotal role in guiding the Knights to their firstgrand finalappearance—against defending champions and '97 minor premiers theManly Warringah Sea Eagles.There were grave concerns leading up to the match that Johns would be unable to play the game, as he had suffered three broken ribs and a punctured lung only a fortnight earlier. However, Johns was able to play, and with less than a minute of the match to go with scores tied at 16-all Johns made a play that has gone down in rugby league folklore. He went out of position unexpectedly and intodummy halfwhere he ran down a narrow blind side before slipping a pass to NewcastlewingDarren Albertfor the match-winning try. With only six seconds remaining in the game Newcastle had snatched victory and secured their first premiership title.

The following year in the newNational Rugby Leaguethe Knights performed even better during the regular season than in the previous year, losing only five matches and narrowly missing out on the minor premiership on points difference. Johns individually was brilliant and was awarded his first Player of the YearDally M Medalaward for the1998 season.Unfortunately for Johns and NSW fans, he had one of his worst goal-kicking games in Game 1 of the1998 State of Origin seriesas NSW lost by one point despite scoring more tries than Queensland. His performances at club, state and national level were again rewarded as he received his second Player of the YearDally M Medalaward, the first time a player had won the award consecutively sinceParramatta EelsgreatMichael Croninin 1977 and 1978.

Despite initial concerns regarding the leadership of the Knights after the retirement ofPaul Harragon,and even more when Andrew's brother Matthew joined EnglishSuper Leagueclub theWigan Warriors,Johns was given the responsibility of captaining the Newcastle squad. The fears proved groundless: Johns led Newcastle toanother Grand Final victory,defeating theParramatta Eels30–24 in2001.He was awarded theClive Churchill Medalfor Man of the Match in a Grand Final and at the end of the2001 NRL season,he went on the2001 Kangaroo tour.He was the top points scorer in Australia's successful Ashes series campaign and was named man of the match for the second Test. Also that year he was awarded theAustralian Sports Medalfor his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league.

2002–2005

Having won the2001 NRL Premiership,the Knights travelled to England to play the2002 World Club ChallengeagainstSuper Leaguechampions theBradford Bulls.Johns captained as ahalfback,scoring atryand kicking three goals in Newcastle's loss. In2002,Johns was awarded the captaincy of bothNew South WalesandAustralia,going on to win the title of Player of the Series againstGreat Britain.At a club level Andrew Johns and the Newcastle Knights performed well, narrowly missing out on the minor premiership on points difference. Unfortunately, the Knights' finals campaign derailed as Johns broke a bone in his back in the first week of the finals, and the Knights without Johns ended up losing to eventual premiers theSydney Roosters38–12 to be knocked out of the season. Before his injury Johns' season had been marvellous and despite his lack of involvement in the finals series he was named the Player of the YearDally M Medalfor a record third time, a feat achieved by only one other player,Johnathan Thurston,to date.

Johns' back injury at the tail-end of 2002 was the first of what seemed like a plague of injuries over the next few seasons: he had a serious neck injury that threatened his career in 2003, sustained ananterior cruciate ligament(ACL) knee injury which kept him out of most of the2004 season,and broke his jaw in early 2005.

During the2003 Rugby Union World Cup,Wales assistant coach Scott Johnson got Johns to assist with pre-match preparation by speaking to the players and presenting them with their jerseys.

Johns was the centre of controversy in 2004 after receiving a massive offer fromrugby unionto switch codes.Numerous past legends of both codes expressed their opinions. Debate continues about what happened during the negotiations with rugby union, since the contractual offers were made by theWaratahswithout the salary top-ups from theAustralian Rugby Unionthat had been usual in contractual negotiations with previous potential converts from rugby league. The ARU's formal reasons for not supporting the Waratahs' bid to secure Johns were his age (30) and injury history. These were later retracted after the "ecstasy controversy" (see below).

Even without the additional monetary support from the ARU, the Waratahs were able to table an offer to Johns that was far larger than any rugby league club could offer on its own. AfterDavid Gallop,theCEOof theNRLandChannel Ninecontributed money and a promise of a commentary position after his career ended, Johns finally decided to stay in league, ending months of speculation and debate.He says his decision was greatly affected by his son, who wanted him to stay in league. He was also approached by theWelsh Rugby Unionbecause of his Welsh heritage.

As Game 2 of the2005 State of Origin seriesapproached, the Blues were down 0–1 and Johns was selected to replaceBrett Kimmorleyin theNew South Walessquad. The second game in the series was his first match since returning from a series of injuries that sidelined him for a number of weeks. Johns did not have to struggle to regain his form, receiving Man-of-the-Match honours in the Blues' 32–22 win over Queensland. He was again chosen as the first-choicehalfbackfor Game 3 and performed well, sealing the series for the Blues with a strong 32–10 win, their last series win for quite some time.

In August 2005, it was announced that Johns would join theSuper Leagueside theWarrington Wolveson a short-term deal, playing in the final two games of the regular Super League season and any playoff games the Wolves might reach.The Knights agreed to these terms only after Johns first signed a new contract, making him available to captain the Knights until the end of 2008.

2006–2007

Andrew Johns broke one of the longest-standing records in Round 2 of the2006 seasonas he amassed 30 points against theCanberra Raidersand in doing so claimed the points-scoring record for a player at a single club, surpassingMick Cronin's1,971 points forParramatta.

Back in the NRL, playing for Newcastle during a Round 18 match against the Parramatta Eels, Johns' name entered the NRL record books for the second time in the year. A Johns conversion of a Newcastle try made Johns the highest points scorer in the 98-year history of first-grade rugby league in Australia, eclipsingJason Taylor'sprevious record of 2,107 points. He rather coincidentally scored the record-breaking conversion in a 46–12 loss to the Eels, who were coached at the time by Jason Taylor.

Things did not start well for Johns in the2007 seasonas he lasted only four minutes into Round 1. AsCanterbury BulldogsforwardSonny Bill Williamswent to perform one of his trade-mark hits on Johns, the tackle strayed high leaving Johns lying concussed. Williams pleaded guilty at the judiciary to a reckless high tackle, and received a two-week suspension for the hit. Johns missed the following match but returned in Round 3 against theCanberra Raiders—which would be his last career match in the NRL. On the Thursday after the Canberra match, a tackle with Newcastle teammateAdam Woolnoughin a training session resulted in his referral to a specialist to examine a neck injury. It was revealed that Johns had a bulging disc in his neck. It was confirmed that this had been present for some time and was not related to the training incident. All medical advice was that Johns should retire from professional football, since any further neck injury could prove life-threatening and on 10 April 2007, Johns announced his retirement from rugby league.

The Newcastle Knights' season would fall apart: they finished 15th of 16 teams on the ladder, narrowly missing out on theWooden Spoonwith a narrow two-point victory in their last match of the season. Johns tried to soften the blow of his retirement by saying he had been seriously considering retirement at the end of the 2007 season and was quoted in the press as saying "I knew this year would be my last year, it's just unfortunate it's stopped five months before the end of the season." Commenting on his teammates' reaction to his retirement, Johns noted: "They were sort of relieved I think, after a couple of injuries this year... I think the time's right."

On his retirement a chorus of past league greats called for Johns to be immediately honoured as an immortal of the game. In the preceding 13 years, the former Cessnock junior had changed the game like few others before him. In October 2008 Johns completed a walk from Newcastle to Sydney to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute.

Cricket career

See also:List of cricket and rugby league players

Cricket information
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-armoff break
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2006/07	New South Wales
Career statistics
Competition Twenty20 Matches 2 Runs scored 9 Batting average 9.00 100s/50s 0 Top score 9 Ballsbowled 11 Wickets 0 Bowling average – 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling – Catches/stumpings 0/–
Source:CricketArchive,18 March 2015

In June 2006 it was announced that, while still playing rugby league, Johns would play cricket forNew South Wales,in itsTwenty20series.The announcement sparked much media interest and many critics and the public suspected a public relations stunt as his first match was to be played in Johns' home town ofNewcastle.Despite this, Johns made his professional cricket debut for NSW on 7 January 2007 againstSouth Australiain front of a record crowd atNewcastle Number 1 Sports Ground.He had a missed opportunity to take a wicket: a short-pitched delivery was pulled to the boundary but much to the dismay of the large Newcastle crowd, the catch was put down.In his second match, againstTasmaniaatStadium Australiain Sydney, Johns scored only nine runs and with that his short cricket career was over.

After retirement

Johns in 2011

Johns sought to celebrate the inclusion of Australia'sDally Messengerin the originalAll Goldstour, Johns had been invited to join the New Zealand team for the match against the Northern Union.Despite his neck injury, he was able to play with the squad, and completed the match uninjured, but declined another offer from the New Zealand team.Queensland and Australiafive-eighthDarren Lockyerwas invited to take Johns' placebut then Lockyer himself was ruled out after suffering a season-ending knee injury.New Zealand Warriorscaptain andQueenslandfront rowerSteve Pricewas the eventual replacement for the match. Andrew became a commentator for Channel 9 andMonday Night Football on Triple Mradio.

On 22 April in Round 6 of 2007, Newcastle held special farewell celebrations for Andrew Johns in the Knights' home game against Brisbane. The Knights board renamed the new $30 million East grandstand ofEnergyAustralia Stadiumthe Andrew Johns Stand. In addition, in a first for the NRL, his number 7 jersey was retired for the match with new younghalfbackJarrod Mullenwearing number 18.Later in the year the Knights named Johns ashalfbackandcaptainfor their commemorative Team of the Era.

In June 2007, in what would be the first of his involvements as a specialist part-time coach, rival code theAustralian Rugby Unionhired Johns as theWallabiesin-play kicking coach for the duration of the2007 Tri Nations Series.On 27 October 2007, Johns married his partner Cathrine Mahoney in a secret wedding on a Sydney island.When Johns returned from his honeymoon at the beginning of the2008 Pre-season,he began a part-time coaching role with theParramatta Eels,working one on one with Eels halvesBrett FinchandTim Smith.In the same time frame Johns worked with his old club theNewcastle Knightsin a similar skills specific coaching role. The third club to hire Johns for his coaching services was theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs,who signed Johns for the 2008 season. The role involved him in specifically working with the halves,hookersand backs.

In February 2008, a year after his retirement, Johns moved a step closer to becoming rugby league's next Immortal after being named the Best Player of the Last 30 Years by a major rugby league magazine. On 17 April 2008 he was named inTeam of the Centuryas ahalfbackby a 28-man judging panel, who voted in a secret ballot and chose the team from an original list of the100 Greatest Playersnamed earlier in the year. Later, Johns said he felt "the game has forgiven me". On 9 September 2008 at the Dally M awards in Sydney, Johns and his wife Cathrine announced they were expecting their first child in March 2009 (Johns has a son from his previous marriage).On 1 March 2009, Johns and Cathrine welcomed their first child and son, Louis Byron

In 2010 theMelbourne Rebelsannounced they had secured the services of Johns to work with theSuper Rugbyclub's inside backs.Recent Rebels signingJames O'Connorsaid "Obviously he comes from a league background but there was nobody better at taking the ball to the line and pulling those balls back... the chance to work with him was pretty awesome."

Despite Johns' ecstasy use controversy, he was officially announced as the eighth'Immortal'of the game on 28 September 2012, afterRugby League Week magazinestated the voting criteria were to be based solely on a player's "on field performance" (despite admitting to using ecstasy while playing).In early November 2012, Johns signed on as assistant coach of theManly Warringah Sea Eaglesfor the 2013 Rugby League season, mentoring and ambassadorial roles.

Ecstasy use controversy

On 26 August 2007 Johns was arrested forfare evasionon theLondon Underground,and subsequently found to be in possession of oneecstasytablet. He was cautioned and released with no further charges. Johns initially claimed that an unknown person had pushed the tablet into his pocket which he later forgot to remove before leaving the crowded venue.This initial statement was met with a great deal of cynicism from both the press and the public. On 30 August, Johns revealed, live on theFooty Show,that he had regularly taken ecstasy throughout his playing career, mainly during the off-season. He claimed he had suffered from depression and bipolar disorder and the drugs helped him in dealing with the high level of psychological 'pressure' associated with his career as an elite sportsman.Not long after the incident he released his 'tell-all' autobiography that went into further details regarding his depression anddrug usewhile playing in the NRL.

TheARUreleased a press statement shortly after the controversy arose, stating that Johns' drug use was known to the ARU and was a key factor in its decision to not proceed with contractual negotiations in 2004. Brett Robinson, then high-performance unit manager, said that, as well as Johns' age and injury history, the knowledge of his drug taking had been influential in the ARU making its final decision.

When Johns was named the Best Player of the Last 30 Years in early 2008, the accolade allayed concern that Johns' shock drug admission the year before had tarnished his remarkable efforts on the field for Newcastle, NSW and Australia. On receiving the award he was quoted as saying his health was now in great shape. "I'm at the best place I have been in a long time," he said. "It's not until you step away that I realise all the pressure I was under, I'm not going to miss playing at all."

Racism controversy

In June 2010 during the lead-up to Origin II, New South WalescentreTimana Tahuwithdrew mid-week from the NSW squad following reports Johns referred to Queensland playerGreg Inglisas a "black c*nt" during a training session.Johns was subsequently fired from his role as NSW assistant coach. Though he apologised for the incident on Tuesday 15 June,it is alleged it was not the first time Johns had used racist language in a football environment.Inglis demanded Johns be barred from any involvement in rugby league.

More Joyous Scandal

Johns was the catalyst to theMore JoyousScandal, engulfing leading Sydney horse trainerGai Waterhouse,advertising figureJohn Singleton(racehorse More Joyous's owner) and bookmaker and son of the horse trainerTom Waterhouse.Johns passed information from Tom Waterhouse that horse More Joyous was "off" on to brothel owner Eddie Hayson and former jockey Allan Robinson. Singleton received word of this and verbally attacked Gai Waterhouse on live television. Johns feared hisChannel 9commentating career would be over due to the trouble he caused Tom Waterhouse, a Channel 9 advertiser. Johns's commentating career survived, although his reputation was further damaged. Both Waterhouses were cleared of any major wrongdoing by aRacing NSWinquiry, however, Singleton and Gai's longstanding partnership ceaseduntil 2016. On 28 September 2023, it was announced that Johns would be stepping down from his role within the New South Wales coaching staff after the NSWRL board informed him his contract would not be renewed after another series loss.

Epilepsy

In 2019, Johns revealed that he had been diagnosed with epilepsy. His doctors were of the view that his playing career could have contributed to the diagnosis. In an interview with his brother, Matthew Johns on Fox League on Sunday night,he said, “They think maybe a contributor could be some of the concussions I’ve had and... continual head knocks”.Johns lost his driver licence after suffering an epileptic seizure at a cafe in Yamba on the New South Wales north coast in December 2018.The Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) initially refused to return his licence but later did so on appeal.

Live State of Origin rant

Following the NSW loss to QLD in game 3 of the 2022 State of Origin series, resulting in a QLD series win, Johns was visibly upset while part of a commentary panel during the family friendly Channel 9 live broadcast. In an incident after the game, in which media speculated at the time might have been his unofficial resignation, Johns made the out of context statement in response to a question about the game, “Now we have to listen to all the bullshit from you (Queenslanders) in the next 12 months. It drives you mad.”

Business life

Johns is founder and co-owner of Steel City Beer Company withMatthew Johns,Danny Buderus,Kurt GidleyandMatt Hoy.

Career statistics

Club career

Team	Matches	Tries	Goals	Field Goals	Points
Newcastle Knights1993–2007	249	80	917	22	2,176
Warrington Wolves2005	4	1	12	1	29

Representative career

Team	Matches	Tries	Goals	Field Goals	Points
Country Origin1995–1996, 2003	3	1	7	0	18
New South Wales1995–2000, 2002–2003, 2005	23	4	37	4	94
Australia1995–2003, 2005–2006	27	12	90	0	228

Achievements, awards and accolades

In February 2008, Johns was named in the list of Australia's100 Greatest Players(1908–2007) which was commissioned by theNRLandARLto celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.Johns went on to be named ashalfbackin Australian rugby league'sTeam of the Century.Announced on 17 April 2008, the team is the panel's majority choice for each of the thirteen starting positions and four interchange players.In 2008 New South Wales announced their rugby league team of the century also and Johns was again named as ahalfback.

Newcastle Knights records

• Most points in a match: 34 (v Canberra, 29 July 2001)
• Most goals in a match: 11 (v Canberra, 19 March 2006)
• Most points in a season: 279 (2001 National Rugby League Season)
• Most points for the club: 2,176

Australian premiership records

• Retired as highest individual point scorer in premiership history: 2,176 (eclipsingJason Taylor's previous record of 2,107; now 4th).
• The competition's leading point scorer in2001:279 points.
• Most ever points scored by ahalfbackin a singleNational Rugby Leagueseason (279 in 2001).

International records

• Most points scored on international debut: 30 (v South Africa at the 1995 World Cup)
• Most points scored in a test match: 32 (v Fiji in 1996)
• Most goals in a test match: 12 (v Fiji in 1996)

Awards

• Dally M Medal(best player in the NRL competition): 3 (1998, 1999 and 2002)
• Dally MHalfback of the Year: 4 (1995, 1998, 1999 and 2002)
• Provan-Summons Medal (fans' favourite player): 5 (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002)
• Golden Boot(best player in the world): 2 (1999 and 2001)
• Clive Churchill Medal(man-of-the-match in the grand final): 1 (2001)
• Dally M'Representative Player of the Year' Award: 1 (2005)
• Player of the Series – Australia v Great Britain: 2001
• Most Valuable Player of the Tournament at the 1995 World Cup in England
• State of Origin man-of-the-match: 4 (Game 2, 1996; Game 1, 2002; Game 2, 2003 and Game 2, 2005)
• Voted #1 in the 'Modern Masters Top 30 Players of the Past 30 Years' poll (Rugby League Week)
• Announced as the eighthImmortalof the Australian game on 27 September 2012 joining other greats:Bob Fulton,John Raper,Clive Churchill,Reg Gasnier,Graeme Langlands,Wally LewisandArthur Beetson.This being the ultimate honour one could receive as a professionalrugby leaguefootballer.
• Inducted into theSport Australia Hall of Fameon 11 October 2012 at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne along with fellow greats of Australian sport such asBrisbane BroncoscoachWayne Bennettand cricketing greatAdam Gilchrist
• Australian Sports Medal

See also

• List of cricket and rugby league players

Further reading

• Johns, Andrew; Neil Cadigan (2007).The two of me.HarperCollins Publishers.ISBN978-0-7322-8653-8.
• Masters, Roy(19 March 2005)."Moody Blue".The Sydney Morning Herald.Australia: Fairfax.Retrieved16 June2010.

External links

• Andrew JohnsatIMDb
• State of Origin Official website Rugby League Player Stats
• 2001 Ashes profile
• Andrew Johnsat theSport Australia Hall of Fame
• Andrew JohnsatIMDb
• Andrew JohnsatESPNcricinfo
• Australian Network Entertainment profile