Andrew Johns
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Andrew Gary Johns | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | [1] Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia | 19 May 1974||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 179 cm (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 89 kg (14 st 0 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Halfback, Hooker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [2] |
Andrew Gary Johns
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 a
In 2008, less than a year into his retirement, Johns was named as the Greatest Player of the last 30 years[8] by the publication 'Rugby League Week', beating the likes of Queensland legend Wally Lewis (voted #2), fellow NSW star Brad Fittler (voted #3) and then former Queensland and Australian captain Darren Lockyer (voted #4). On 28 September 2012, Johns was named as the eighth 'Immortal' of rugby league.[9]
Football career
Early days
Andrew Johns began playing junior rugby league in his home town of Cessnock, New South Wales for the Cessnock Goannas. At an early age it was evident he had plenty of playing ability and Johns joined the Newcastle Knights junior ranks at age 15 in 1989.[citation needed]
Four years later, at 19, the opportunity at first grade presented itself as Johns was tested off the bench during the
Subsequently, he was named in the starting line-up against the South Sydney Rabbitohs and 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 played five-eighth at the Knights since 1991.
1995–2001
The 1995 ARL season saw prosperous times for Johns, as in the absence of Super League-aligned players, he was selected for the first time to represent New South Wales in the 1995 State of Origin series. Incumbent New South Wales halfback Ricky Stuart was not selected due to his affiliation with Super League. Also that year he was able to make his début for the Kangaroos in Australia's successful 1995 World Cup campaign in England. He played as a hooker and was named man of the match in the decider against England at Wembley Stadium as Australia once again retained the World Cup.[10]
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 to hooker for the State of Origin, with New South Wales selectors favouring Geoff Toovey in the halfback role.[citation needed] 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 the
The following year in the new
Despite initial concerns regarding the leadership of the Knights after the retirement of
2002–2005
Having won the
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 an
During the
Johns was the centre of controversy in 2004 after receiving a massive offer from
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. After David Gallop, the CEO of the NRL and Channel Nine contributed 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.[citation needed] He says his decision was greatly affected by his son, who wanted him to stay in league. He was also approached by the Welsh Rugby Union because of his Welsh heritage.[15]
As Game 2 of the 2005 State of Origin series approached, the Blues were down 0–1 and Johns was selected to replace Brett Kimmorley in the New South Wales squad. 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-choice halfback for 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 the Super League side the Warrington Wolves on a short-term deal, playing in the final two games of the regular Super League season and any playoff games the Wolves might reach.[citation needed] 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 the
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, eclipsing
Things did not start well for Johns in the
The Newcastle Knights' season would fall apart: they finished 15th of 16 teams on the ladder, narrowly missing out on the Wooden Spoon with 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."[16]
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
Cricket information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowling | Right-arm off break | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006/07 | New South Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: CricketArchive, 18 March 2015 |
In June 2006 it was announced that, while still playing rugby league, Johns would play cricket for New South Wales, in its Twenty20 series.[17] 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 of Newcastle. Despite this, Johns made his professional cricket debut for NSW on 7 January 2007 against South Australia in front of a record crowd at Newcastle 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.[18] In his second match, against Tasmania at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Johns scored only nine runs and with that his short cricket career was over.
After retirement
Johns sought to celebrate the inclusion of Australia's
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 of
In June 2007, in what would be the first of his involvements as a specialist part-time coach, rival code the
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 in
In 2010 the
Despite Johns' ecstasy use controversy, he was officially announced as the eighth 'Immortal' of the game on 28 September 2012, after Rugby League Week magazine stated the voting criteria were to be based solely on a player's "on field performance" (despite admitting to using ecstasy while playing).[27][28] In early November 2012, Johns signed on as assistant coach of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles for the 2013 Rugby League season, mentoring and ambassadorial roles.[29]
Ecstasy use controversy
On 26 August 2007 Johns was arrested for
The
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."[citation needed]
Racism controversy
In June 2010 during the lead-up to Origin II, New South Wales centre Timana Tahu withdrew mid-week from the NSW squad following reports Johns referred to Queensland player Greg Inglis as a "black c*nt" during a training session.[32] Johns was subsequently fired from his role as NSW assistant coach. Though he apologised for the incident on Tuesday 15 June,[33] it is alleged it was not the first time Johns had used racist language in a football environment.[34] Inglis demanded Johns be barred from any involvement in rugby league.[35]
More Joyous Scandal
Johns was the catalyst to the More Joyous Scandal, engulfing leading Sydney horse trainer Gai Waterhouse, advertising figure John Singleton (racehorse More Joyous's owner) and bookmaker and son of the horse trainer Tom 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 his Channel 9 commentating 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 a Racing NSW inquiry, however, Singleton and Gai's longstanding partnership ceased[36] until 2016.[37] 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.[38]
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,[when?] he said, “They think maybe a contributor could be some of the concussions I’ve had and ... continual head knocks”.[39] 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.[40] 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.”[41]
Business life
Johns is founder and co-owner of Steel City Beer Company with Matthew Johns, Danny Buderus, Kurt Gidley and Matt Hoy.[42][43]
Career statistics
Club career
Team | Matches | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Newcastle Knights 1993–2007 | 249 | 80 | 917 | 22 | 2,176 |
Warrington Wolves 2005 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 29 |
Representative career
Team | Matches | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Country Origin 1995–1996, 2003 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 18 |
New South Wales 1995–2000, 2002–2003, 2005 | 23 | 4 | 37 | 4 | 94 |
Australia 1995–2003, 2005–2006 | 27 | 12 | 90 | 0 | 228 |
Achievements, awards and accolades
In February 2008, Johns was named in the list of Australia's
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 (eclipsing Jason Taylor's previous record of 2,107; now 4th).
- The competition's leading point scorer in 2001: 279 points.
- Most ever points scored by a halfback in a single National Rugby League season (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)
- 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 eighth John Raper, Clive Churchill, Reg Gasnier, Graeme Langlands, Wally Lewis and Arthur Beetson. This being the ultimate honour one could receive as a professional rugby leaguefootballer.
- Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame on 11 October 2012 at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne along with fellow greats of Australian sport such as Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett and cricketing great Adam Gilchrist[49]
- Australian Sports Medal
See also
References
- ^ News Corporation. 10 April 2007. Archived from the originalon 7 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Let Joey go for the good of the game – League – Sport". smh.com.au. 3 August 2005. Retrieved 1 January 2006.
- ^ "Biography at NRL Sunday Footy Show". jump-in.com.au. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Bob Fulton Backs Calls For Newcastle Knights Great Andrew Johns To Join Rugby Leagues Immortals". foxsports.com.au. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
- ^ "HALL OF HEROES: Andrew 'Joey' Johns". warringtonguardian.co.uk. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- ^ "Graham Lowe: I can see Cleary now, Warriors' reign will come ... – 23 Mar 2007 – nzherald: Sports news – New Zealand and International Sport news and results". nzherald.co.nz. 23 March 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
- ^ "30 Greatest NRL Players". sportsbar.net.au. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ^ "Andrew 'Joey' Johns named rugby league's 8th Immortal". The Australian. 28 September 2012.
- ^ Johnson, Martin (30 October 1995). "Nothing focuses an Aussie sportsman more than stuffing the Poms". The Independent. UK: Independent. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "Ten greatest grand final moments". dailytelegraph.com.au. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Andrew Johns". Australian Honours Database. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
- ISBN 9780862439927.
- ^ a b Morton, Jim; Beniuk, David (4 September 2007). "ARU knew about Johns drugs". Daily Telegraph. News. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
- ^ "Wales launch Johns bid". BBC. 14 January 2004. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
- ^ "Joey gives the game away". leaguehq.com.au. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Joey's surprise code switch". smh.com.au. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "No cricket fairytale for Johns". smh.com.au. 7 January 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Legend Johns to represent Kiwis". BBC. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
- ^ "Neck injury forces Johns to quit". BBC. 10 April 2007. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
- ^ "Lockyer to star in All Golds game". BBC. 8 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
- ^ "Lockyer faces long injury lay-off". BBC. 14 July 2007. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
- ^ "Joey's one last good Knight". foxsports.com.au. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
- ^ a b "Baby boy for Andrew Johns and Cathrine". theherald.com.au. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ "Andrew Johns breaks the code to help Melbourne Rebels and Melbourne Storm". Herald Sun. News. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
- ^ "Melbourne Rebels run silent on Andrew Johns' involvement". The Daily Telegraph website. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
- ^ "Criteria for Selection of Rugby League's Next Immortal Released". dailytelegraph.com.au. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
- ^ "Andrew 'Joey' Johns named rugby league's 8th Immortal". theaustralian.com.au. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
- ^ "Andrew johns signs on as assistant coach with manly Sea Eagles". news.com.au. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ^ "Joey busted for ecstasy". Daily Telegraph. 30 August 2007. Archived from the original on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
- ^ "Andrew Johns admits being foolish over drug arrest". Daily Telegraph. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
- ^ Kerry O'Keeffe (15 June 2010). "ABC Sport – Race row deepens around Johns". ABC News. Abc.net.au. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ The Courier-Mail (Qld), Sunday 13 June 2010; ninemsn.com.au
- ^ "The Andrew Johns racism controversy". smh.com.au. 20 June 2010. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "Kick Joey out of league: Inglis – State of Origin". foxsports.com.au. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "John Singleton dumps Gai Waterhouse in public spat". theaustralian.com.au. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ Patrick Bartley. "How Gai Waterhouse and John Singleton got back to business". Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "Fittler quits: NSW on lookout for new Origin coach". www.nrl.com. 28 September 2023.
- ^ Pengilly, Adam (17 March 2019). "Andrew Johns' shock admission on contributing cause to his epilepsy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ "'I fell over in a cafe and smashed my head'".
- ^ "Andrew Johns's State of Origin reaction pilloried on social media". abc.net.au. 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Newcastle Legends Behind Launch of Steel City Beer Co". 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Knights say cheers to stadium beers". 18 March 2022.
- ^ "Centenary of Rugby League – The Players". NRL & ARL. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
- ^ Peter Cassidy (23 February 2008). "Controversy reigns as NRL releases top 100 players". Macquarie National News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
- ^ Balym, Todd (17 April 2008). "Johns, Meninga among Immortals". Fox Sports Australia. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
- ^ "Team of the Century Announced". NRL & ARL. 17 April 2008. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
- ^ ARL (2008). "Australian Rugby Football League 2008 Annual Report" (PDF). Australian Rugby Football League Limited. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
- ^ "Hall of Fame induction for Johns and Bennett". ABC News. abc.net.au. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
Further reading
- Johns, Andrew; Neil Cadigan (2007). The two of me. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7322-8653-8.
- Masters, Roy (19 March 2005). "Moody Blue". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
External links
- Andrew Johns at IMDb
- State of Origin Official website Rugby League Player Stats
- 2001 Ashes profile
- Andrew Johns at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame
- Andrew Johns at IMDb
- Andrew Johns at ESPNcricinfo
- Australian Network Entertainment profile