THE BANANA KICK
Johns was shown this kick by former Knights and South Sydney player Neil Baker.  Baker told him how Greg Brentnall, the Canterbury great with the AFL background, would curl the kick when he was looking for extra yardage on a penalty touch-finder, like a bad golf slice.  Johns realised the value in not just using the banana kick to find touch but also as an attacking weapon. So instead of kicking down the sideline, he sent it across the tryline.

SPIRAL BOMB
He saw Ricky Stuart do it as he warmed up one day before playing Canberra. Watched the way Stuart held the ball and kicked it, with the spiral having the advantage of drifting off line as it descended, making it harder for the fullback to judge, and hence more chance of a mistake.

CURLING GRUBBERS
He calls it taking the "juice" off the ball, and it was first stolen from Peter Sterling. The ball is grubbered close to the goal-line but, rather than continuing on over the deadball line, the ball curls around so it runs parallel with the deadball line, but doesn't go out. Johns can bend it like Beckham either way, depending on which side he is kicking from, and because the ball remains in play it is always dangerous.

TELL A LIE
When Andrew was in Newcastle's lower grades with brother Matthew, coach Allan Bell would work with them as they ran opposed session against the first grade team. The Knights called them "tell a lie" plays and Bell would keep in their ears. "Before you put on that play you telegraph it," he'd say. "You look at the man you were going to pass to. Engage the bloke from the opposition longer." 
Johns was shown to dummy short and pass long, or dummy long and pass short. Or to run at the man before kicking, committing him and then playing him.

SHORT SIDE
Read the situation: click, click, click, make the play.  Short sides are plentiful because they are easy to count numbers on. By the time Johns takes the ball to the line he knows if the defence plays slide or up and in, and that for every style there is a way to beat it.  So if the defence is sliding, commit the defender and find the short runner. Or, Bell says, "If the defence is buying the short runner face ball him and hit the next bloke." 
If you have the numbers, say four runners against three defenders, play straight and you have an overlap. If Johns doesn't have the numbers he will create it by going past one defender's line to the second defender. Basically, for every action from the defence, he has a reaction ready.

BLANK CANVAS
Most players today have the technique to play the short side, or hit the spiral bomb, or curl the grubber or tell a lie.  Johns's one true talent is his football is so ingrained he rarely pre-empts his play, even as late as when he is taking the ball to the line.
Perhaps his greatest talent is how close he can play to the defensive line, allowing him to wait longer to read the defence and enter a test of nerve that often sees the defence crack and make their play first, enabling him to play off it.

BIO-MECHANICS
When Johns was coming through, a Knights official who should have known better said he was too slow.  Johns has an odd physical make-up for a halfback, with short legs and a low centre of gravity.  But it works for him because he understands himself so well, and provides a strong power base. 
Put all this together and you have the package. Brother Matthew calls him a con-man, the way he undersells his preparation.
Nobody is buying any more.

Sattler says Johns is changing league -  7sport.com.au,  27 June 2003 
Tireless Queensland forward Scott Sattler claims NSW captain Andrew Johns is revolutionising the way State of Origin football was played.  On the day NSW second rower Ben Kennedy was ruled out of Origin III for his high shot on Steve Price, Sattler paid homage to the world's best player, who carried out coach Phil Gould's game plan to perfection.
"The history of Origin has always been a forwards battle but Johns is changing the way the game's played to make it more expansive," Sattler said in the wake of the Blues' breathtaking 27-4 win over the Maroons in Origin II on Wednesday night  "I think the days of the Origin battles in the forwards may be, not dead and gone but the battles where it's fought in the middle for over 70 per cent of the game are on the way out. I think a more expansive game needs to be shown in Origin now."
Johns was brilliant, bringing back memories of rugby league's original King Wally Lewis with his passing and kicking game. It was an ominous sign for the Maroons ahead of game three at Suncorp Stadium on July 16, with the current NSW outfit gunning to become only the third Blues side in Origin history to complete a sweep. Gould said NSW was about to enter an era of dominance on the back of the brilliant Johns. "When you have got a player like Andrew Johns to lead your side, as I say, the brand of football we can play off the back of his skill makes us pretty hard to beat at the moment," Gould said. "They are probably on the end of a very good era where we are on the start of a good era."

Johns destroys Eels -  29 June 2003
Newcastle 30 Parramatta 16  -  NEWCASTLE captain Andrew Johns kicked and passed to perfection in another virtuoso performance to give the Knights a comfortable win over Parramatta at EnergyAustralia Stadium today.  However, Johns may be charged by NRL judiciary commissioner Jim Hall tomorrow for a high tackle on Eels fullback Brett Hodgson.  Johns was penalised by referee Shayne Hayne for his indiscretion in the seventh minute but was not placed on report.  Hodgson was falling when Johns made contact and replays didn't look too bad, but all Newcastle players and officials are wary of being suspended after last week's harsh four-game ban of NSW forward Ben Kennedy.  "Who knows what's going to happen when you get charged?" said Johns, who threw his head in the air as if to say 'what have I done?' immediately after the incident.
The Knights racked up five tries as Johns, backing up from his man of the match effort in Origin II, ran riot again.  He put players through holes that didn't seem to be there with pin-point long and short passes, hit hard in defence and kept Parramatta back-pedalling with an assortment of kicks.  "Joey was absolutely outstanding," said Knights coach Michael Hagan.  Johns recovered from two controversial moments to thwart the Eels.  One minute after his tackle on Hodgson, he gave Josh Perry a short ball that sent the Newcastle prop crashing over the line for the opening try.  In the 34th minute, Johns was collected high by Eels centre David Vaealiki - who was also reported by referee Shayne Hayne - and sat stunned on the halfway line requiring medical treatment.  But just 60 seconds later, Johns was back on his feet, putting Matt Gidley through a hole with a magical short ball, sending the Newcastle and NSW centre on an uninterrupted 40m run to the line.  It was 14-6 and the Knights were away.  On Johns' hit on Hodgson, Hagan said: "He (Hodgson) was certainly falling when Joey came in and brushed him over the top.  "There wasn't too much in that one."

Blues bar flies -  How did the blues celebrate their Origin clinching victory?  with a few ales at Homebush before hitting the Crowne Plaza at Coogee, then it was on to the Bondi Hotel, the  Q Bar in Oxford Street and an early morning bet at Star City.  The stayers got in just after 6am but Andrew Johns still managed a couple of settlers with fans on Thursday afternoon.  An interesting guest in the Blues dressing room after the match was champion surfer Kelly Slater, who has become great mates with Joey.  The Sunday Telegraph,  29 June 2003

Arnie tongue - tied -  The Sunday Telegraph,  29 June 2003
Arnold Schwarzeneggers TV commericals before both Origin marches have been a huge hit.  The US based actor was sent the names of Origin players and got them all right on the first take - except one.  Was it Buderus?  Minichiello? No.  He couldn't pronouce Andrew Johns.  He repeatedly called him Jones and only nailed it after dozens of takes. 

Knights News -  Andrew Johns commitment to NSW should never be questioned.  On his day off from camp last Sunday, Joey was spotted in a torture one hour boxing session at Aussie Stadium.  The Sunday Telegraph,  29 June 2003

Knights News -  Joey grows on you.  Andrew John's revelation that he had a growing disease as a youngster was amazing. What didn't make it to air were the thoughts of coach David Waite, the man who got Johns to the Knights.  After watching him in action, Waite said, 'If that kids got enough balls to get out on the field even though he can't run, I'll take a punt on him".
The Sun Herald, 29 June 2003

Johns escape charge  -  30 June 2003
NSW captain Andrew Johns can breathe a sigh of relief after being omitted from the National Rugby League's judiciary charge sheet today.  There were fears the Knights halfback might miss lifting the Origin trophy in Brisbane where the third match will be contested on July 16 after he was penalised for a high tackle on fullback Brett Hodgson in Newcastle yesterday.  Referee Shayne Hayne did not place the seventh minute incident on report and Johns said he could not even remember it after leading the Knights to a 30-16 victory over Parramatta. NRL judiciary commissioner Jim Hall deemed the matter not severe enough to lay a charge.

Johns Divorce turmoil  -  The Sun Herald, 1 June 2003
The Andrew Johns snap last week at Origin camp has been blamed by some sections on 'personal problems'.  We can tell you that Johns personal life has never been better, with his new girlfriend Cathrine mahoney.  "I've never seen him happier off the field", his brother Matthew said.  The difficulties seem to lie in divorce proceedings he is going through with his former wife, Renae, and Johns is having to cope with this as well as deal with a struggling football side.

Joey leads the way -  By JAMES HOOPER,  03 July 2003
THE freakish form of Andrew Johns has seen the Australian captain catapult to the top of the Dally M Medal leaderboard as voting becomes secret for the final 10 rounds of the NRL.  Johns created history last year by becoming the first player to collect a hat-trick of Dally M Medals at rugby league's gala event.  The venue for this year's glittering black tie evening is yet to be determined but the date has been set for September 10.  In a congested field, four players are just three points behind Johns. Votes from each weekend's round of matches will no longer appear in The Daily Telegraph each Monday and will only become known at the Dally M Medal Awards in September. The leaderboard is one of the most fiercely contested in recent seasons, with Canberra fullback Clinton Schifcofske, Penrith excitement machine Rhys Wesser and Broncos star Darren Lockyer just three points away from Johns.
Amazingly, Johns has developed his lead despite having six points deducted from his score for being suspended earlier in the season.  Under new rules this year, players who are suspended once lose three points for every week they are rubbed out of the game.  If they are suspended twice they become ineligible to win league's most prestigious honour.  If all the points outright leader Johns has tallied this season were allowed to stand, the Newcastle captain would be on a staggering 26 points, almost double his nearest rival.  But Johns was also not allowed to collect three points he was awarded in Origin I because Newcastle had the bye in the round leading into the first clash between the Blues and Maroons. Players from teams with the bye are not eligible to earn points in Origin games to ensure all players are judged over an even number of games at the end of the year.  While Johns is rated a strong chance of becoming the first player to ever win four Dally M Medals, there are also a host of other in-form players who appear set to mount serious challenges over the closing rounds.

The next Immortal -  By DEAN RITCHIE,  10 July 2003
Having overcome his final conquest, NSW and Newcastle captain Andrew Johns should become the next player inducted as a rugby league Immortal, say former greats.  Johns and his NSW teammates were given a heroic welcome in the NSW mid-north coast town of Forster yesterday.  Thousands of fans lined the streets and turned up for training to watch the Blues. It is all being done on the back of Johns' skill which has proved to be the difference in the series. By his own admission he had previously failed to dominate State of Origin football until this series. And now that he's climbed the mountain, some of his greatest peers are saying he should be the next Immortal.  Six players are rugby league Immortals - Clive Churchill, Reg Gasnier, Bob Fulton, John Raper, Graeme Langlands and Wally Lewis. "He's the best I've ever seen," says former Australian forward Wayne Pearce. "Johns is definitely destined to be acclaimed alongside the other Immortals. You only have to look at his all-round game - the way he runs the ball, reads the game, defends, kicks in general play, kicks for goals - and that is topped off by leadership skkills."
No player in recent history has dominated like Johns but it is likely he will have to wait until retirement before entering league's most exclusive club.  Former Test captain Mal Meninga agreed Johns would become an Immortal - provided he retained his current domination over the final years of his wonderful career.  "I'd put him in there, definitely," Meninga said. "He has been at the top for four or five years now. But he must continue at that level until the end of his career. Longevity is an important criteria."
Langlands, the former champion St George fullback and centre, also lavished praise on Johns.  "Johns is a great player - one of the best I've seen," he said. "He's got everything. But I don't want to say whether he should be the next Immortal. That's for others to decide.I'm just grateful they found a spot for me."
Another Immortal, John Raper, said Johns must remain the game's premier player for a few more years. "I'm a great Joey Johns fan," Raper said last night. "If anyone better than Johns comes along over the next 10 to 15 years then this game has a great future. But Joey still has to stand the test of time like everyone else. Joey knows that."
The ARL will induct six more players into its Hall of Fame this year. The Hall of Fame was introduced last year when the six Immortals gained immediate entry.  Three players from the post-war era and three from pre-war are expected to be inducted but they will not carry the tag of Immortals.  ARL rules state players must be retired for five years before being named in the Hall of Fame. 

Smash Joey, Greats say put him on his backside -  SMH
Queensland must resort to old fashioned strong arm tactics to stop Andrew Johns from sealing the State of Origin series for NSW.  This is the opinion of former Maroons greats, who believe a legitimate "bashing" of the Blues skipper is required to square the series on Wednesday night at Telstra Stadium.  Maybe they should bash 'Johnsy - that would be a good idea, Willie Carne said.  They have to do something to him.  I'm not talking cheap shots - I've never been a believer in that - but they have to get up and put pressure on him.
Right now Johnsy is the king.  He has stolen Wally's crown, or at least borrowed it.  Queensland have just got to go out there and get tough.  They didn't play tough in that first game.  Greg Dowling a Queensland hardman from the 1980s says Johns must be put on his backside at every opportunity.  I'ts the old story, he said.  You have to sit him on his backside and make hm start to look instead of him kicking it then someone might come through and touch him. The damage is already done.  You have to keep them looking, guessing.  The key to it all is Andrew Johns.  If he plays for us we win by 20 points.  He's a genius player.  Gary Larson, a 24-game eteran for the Maroosn, pondered the Joey conundrum.  How do you put him off his game?  Maybe some good old niggling.  Another possible way of stopping John's influence is to have one player hound him all game chasing out from marker.  Dowling believes energetic prop Steve Price is that man.  He say Johns' kicking game is nowhere near as effective when Price, the codes best at charging down kicks, is on the field. 
Former Queensland captain Mal Meninga said the defence cannot hold off the Blues No 7.  He has to be put on the ground, Meninga said.  He's like any top ball-player.  You put him on the ground, he's out of the next play. If the damage inflicked by Johns can be kept to a minimum, there is confidence that the Maroons can square the series.  Even allowing for his stellar performance at Suncorp Stadium, which included on try and three try-assists, the game was in the balance in to the final 10 mins.  While the NSW side is considered exceptionally good, there are areas in their armour that can be exploited.

Sick Joey vows to play -  By Barry Toohey and Freya Grant,  14 July 2003
Blues captain Andrew Johns said yesterday he was hopeful of being fit to lead the NSW side in Origin III on Wednesday night despite still suffering the effects of a virus.  "It really floored me and I was that crook last night," Johns said. "I still feel really weak and I am just going to kick back here and do nothing at all and hopefully, I'll be able to join the boys up there tomorrow or Tuesday."
Johns, who is being nursed back to health by his girlfriend Cathrine Mahoney in Sydney, claimed he was feeling a little off colour during the NSW Blues promotion in Forster-Tuncurry last week but put it down to the hectic schedule.  By last Thursday, he had almost lost his voice and admitted feeling tired and rundown because of constantly being on the go during the promotional trip. But it wasn't until Saturday afternoon that he started to go downhill.
"I flew back to Sydney with the rest of the boys on Friday and it started to hit me around lunchtime yesterday," Johns said. "By late arvo, I was really struggling and I had to call the doctor last night I was that bad. He has given me antibiotics to take so hopefully, they can take care of it fairly quickly."
Johns will be monitored by NSW team doctor John Orchard - who will remain in Sydney with him - for the next 24 hours. Asked about the likelihood of him missing the third Origin clash, Johns said he would recover.  "At the moment, I'm just that weak that I'm not sure what to think," he said. "But with a day or two's rest, hopefully I'll be OK."
NSW coach Phil Gould said yesterday that the concerns over Johns, Ricketson and Gidley were hampering his side's preparation. "We've been struck by a few thunderbolts," Gould said.  "Joey is very sick and he's the big concern. Things got worse yesterday as time went on. He's a lot worse than Shaun Timmins was last year when he pulled out on game day. The problem is in Joey's chest but we will give him until the last moment to play."
Many of the Blues team only realised Johns wouldn't be travelling with them hours before their plane took off. "I only know what I saw in the papers this morning, he's obviously a bit sick," Blues lock Braith Anasta said.  "It seems like he has come up with a bit of the flu on the weekend which isn't good for the side."
Most of the players however were reassured by Johns' determination to run out on to Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.  "He should be there, shouldn't he?" Craig Wing said.  "I mean, it's Joey."
Good friend and Newcastle teammate Danny Buderus was "one hundred per cent" confident Johns would play.  "Knowing 'Joey', he'll be right," the Blues hooker said.  "It was a pretty big week last week and it was great but it took a lot out of the boys what had to be done up there.I think Andrew should be right."
Gould had not spoken with Johns over the weekend and had been told about his condition on Saturday night by the team doctor.  "It would be an absolute tragedy for Joey if he doesn't play in this game," Gould said.

Johns to play through flu -  7sport.com.au,  15 July 2003 
Andrew Johns remains desperate to lead NSW to a 3-0 State of Origin series whitewash over Queensland Wednesday night despite being "rocked" by a serious flu bug.  The Blues skipper declared himself a certain Suncorp Stadium starter but said he may not be able play the whole game. "I'm resigned to the fact that I probably won't be 100 per cent for the game but I'll be right to play," he said as the Blues had their final training session at Redcliffe. "I haven't had the flu for five or six years and it's really rocked me.  But once I get out there on the field and the adrenalin's pumping I should be fine. Another good night's sleep will pick me up a little bit more."
Johns, who was noticeably short of breath as he spoke to the media before training, admitted he might not be able to go the distance. He said he had discussed that situation with coach Phil Gould and the Blues have Craig Wing to come off the bench if Johns needs a breather. It depends how the game's going but if I'm short of breath and a little bit weak then I'm sure Wingy can come on and he plays well at halfback," Johns said. Queensland coach Wayne Bennett said his preparations and game plans had never been built around whether Johns played or not.  "He wasn't going to play in game one because of a dispute with the coach and in game two it was an ankle injury," said Bennett. "Game three it's the `flu. We always expected him to play and I don't think anyone took too much notice of it all actually."
The Newcastle star admitted being 2-0 up in the series and illness to himself, Newcastle teammate Matthew Gidley and lock Luke Ricketson meant the Blues camp hadn't had its usual intensity. But they wanted a 3-0 result and avoid the hollow feeling of holding up the Origin shield after a last match loss. It went through my head when I was really crook over the weekend and something I really want to do is lift the shield above my head so hopefully we can do it after a big win," he said. Johns also tried to diffuse suggestions the Blues had a problem with the controversial Suncorp Stadium playing surface. "It's a bit loose in patches but a lot of the grounds you play on are a bit loose," he said.  And as for claims players from both teams could walk off if scores are level at full-time rather than follow the golden point extra time edict, he said: "Hopefully it doesn't go to that. You've got to play the result, they're the rules. I want there to be winner. (But) To be honest I haven't even thought about it."

Johns set to eclipse Chief's NSW rep record STATE OF ORIGIN III; Herald. Jul 16, 2003.
NEWCASTLE and NSW captain Andrew Johns will pass former teammate Paul Harragon as the Knights' most capped State of Origin player in tonight's third game at Suncorp Stadium. Johns has recovered sufficiently from a debilitating dose of the flu and will lead NSW in his 21st Origin appearance as the Blues chase only their fourth clean sweep. The 29-year-old halfback equalled Harragon's record of 20 games with a man-of-the-match performance in NSW's series-clinching 27-4 victory over Queensland at Telstra Stadium three weeks ago. "I wasn't aware of it," a still hoarse Johns told the Herald from his Brisbane hotel last night. 
"I'm just wanting to get to the game. I trained today and I still feel a bit weak, but I'll be right." 
Harragon was also surprised to learn Johns is poised to pass his mark, which he set with a NSW Origin record 20 consecutive appearances between 1992 and 1998. Former skipper Brad Fittler (29) holds the NSW record for most Origin games, and Harragon believed Johns was capable of passing that milestone if he wanted to. "I'm really pleased for Joey. He was always going to do it, and it's a great achievement," said Harragon, who will witness his record being broken first hand as a member of Channel Nine's commentary team. "I reckon he's got another three years in him at this level if he wants to, which would give him a crack at Freddy's record, but records and numbers aren't what drives him. Those sort of things aren't something you think about when you're playing, and I know that's not what motivates Joey."  Johns will lift the Origin shield regardless of tonight's result but said it would be a "hollow feeling" if he did so after a Queensland victory. 
Having made his Origin debut in 1995, four days before his 21st birthday, Johns has started in 18 matches and come off the interchange bench twice. He and Harragon were teammates in the Blues' Origin campaigns from 1995 to 1998 and were key members of NSW's clean sweep in 1996. That was the only year either state has won all three games of a series using the same 17 players. After making his debut in the first game of the 1992 series, Harragon played 20 straight matches before injury ruled him out of Origin III in 1998. Only 72 hours ago, Johns was given little chance of making tonight's kick-off. He was bed-ridden with the flu and forced to stay home in Newcastle while his teammates flew to Brisbane. But he joined them on Monday, trained lightly that afternoon, and took an even more active role at training yesterday. Meanwhile, Knights front-rower Matt Kennedy will come off the bench, and Scone and NSW Country hooker John Johnson will start for NSW Residents in tonight's curtain-raiser against Queensland. "I reckon Joey's got another three years in him at this level if he wants to, which would give him a crack at Freddy's record." Paul Harragon
 
Night they booed our Joey -  By Dean Ritchie,  17 July 2003 
About 40,000 people had left Suncorp Stadium last night when Andrew Johns was presented with the State of Origin trophy. Those Queensland fans remaining at the ground jeered the NSW captain.  The embarrassing moment for Johns and league officials will prompt the Australian Rugby League to review its policy about when the Origin trophy is handed to the winning captain.  NSW wanted the trophy presented to Johns in front of 70,000 fans after the Sydney match three weeks ago. Only about 12,000 fans hung around in Brisbane last night to watch Johns hold high the Origin silverware in one of the special moments of his wonderful career.  "I would much prefer to have received it after the previous game," Johns said. "[The jeering] didn't worry me, I didn't take much notice. They booed Gordie [Tallis] down south. "Once the disappointment wears off I'm sure I'll look back and see what a great achievement it was winning this series." 
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said his organisation would look at being flexible next season when awarding the trophy. "There is no perfect solution but there are three options," Carr said. "First is to do it at the end of the series, the second is when a team wins the series, or the third is when the team that has won the series plays its last game at its home venue." 
There is little doubt that NSW players agree with the third option, which would have ensured Johns and his teammates took custody of the trophy in Sydney this year.  I know in cricket during the Ashes series the trophy is always presented after the fifth Test, whether the scoreline be 4-1," Carr said.  "It's a matter of getting the right balance. But at the end of every series we review all aspects and one thing we will look at is when the trophy is presented." 
Johns' teammates were unanimous in their belief the trophy should have been handed over by ARL officials at Homebush. "It would have been good to have held up the trophy in Sydney in front of our home crowd," said NSW five-eighth Shaun Timmins.  "It was a bit disappointing holding the trophy up here in Brisbane when we had lost tonight." 
One man adamant Johns should not have been called on to the stage in front of the Queensland crowd last night was NSW selector and assistant coach Laurie Daley.  "It was a little bit flat tonight when Joey held up the shield," Daley said. "The rules state it is handed over after the third game but I think all NSW fans would like to have seen Joey hold it up in Sydney. I think it is something they should look in to and canvass the idea of changing the rule among players and officials." 

Boo boys mar Joey's trophy joy -  By Brad Walter,  17 July 2003
After being loudly booed at Suncorp Stadium last night, NSW skipper Andrew Johns admitted the crowd reaction had "dulled" the enjoyment of lifting the interstate trophy for the first time but said it went with the territory of State of Origin. Johns, acknowledged as the world's best player, was booed twice after the game - first while being interviewed by Channel Nine and again on a stage in the middle of the field when he was presented with the trophy for NSW's victory in the series.
On the first occasion, interviewer Andrew Voss had to take a long pause between questions and he and Johns stopped and waited until the crowd quietened down.
During his acceptance speech, Johns said: "To the fans up here and down in Sydney, thanks for turning up. "You provide the atmosphere and a great arena to play in front of ... even though you boo me."
Asked later at the post-match press conference about how he felt to be booed, Johns played down the incident. But he said it had soured his enjoyment at reclaiming the trophy for NSW for the first time since 2000 and his first time as captain of the Blues, and agreed it would have been better had the presentation been made after the series was won in Origin II at Telstra Stadium.  "I think I would have much preferred to receive it in Sydney," Johns said. "[But] it doesn't worry me really. I didn't take much notice. It's just the way it is.  They boo Gordo [Tallis] down in Sydney. "It probably dulled the enjoyment tonight, but once the disappointment wears off I think I'll sit back and enjoy it." 
Later, Johns was planning to present NSW coach Phil Gould with a $2,000 ring made up for each of the Blues players by Mark Bouris, the head of Blues' sponsor Wizard, closing the chapter on their supposed feud before the series began.

No rest for the wizard -  By PETER FRILINGOS,  18 July 2003 
Concerned Newcastle coach Michael Hagan considered resting Andrew Johns from tonight's clash with Penrith at EnergyAustralia Stadium.  Hagan, worried the champion halfback faced burnout because of his gruelling schedule, weighed up giving Johns the night off to recover from Wednesday's State of Origin finale. After taking on Penrith, Johns will lead Australia against New Zealand at Aussie Stadium next Friday night then back up on Sunday against Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium. Hagan, the Queensland assistant coach, spoke to Johns in the NSW dressing room shortly after the shock 36-6 loss to the rampaging Maroons at Suncorp Stadium. "I think I was probably thinking about resting Joey because he looked mentally and physically tired," Hagan said yesterday. "But after training sharply, today he feels a lot better about things. So I don't think he'll miss this one against the Panthers but we'll continue to monitor the situation." 
At Wednesday night's post-match press conference, Johns made no attempt to hide his feelings about the strain of the Origin campaign and the demands of club football. Johns said he felt flat on the field because of the flu. "It's just so hard to get yourself up for three Origin games and play club football in between," Johns said. "It's just a massive mental hurdle really. Maybe because we had the series won we didn't have that hard edge tonight. It's very hard to win a series three-nil." 
Newcastle has no hope of winning this year's crown unless Johns is injury-free and at the peak of his powers. The Knights desperately need him to rebuff the Penrith challenge and stay in touch with the top eight.

Referees boss asks judiciary to check video of Johns's angry spray -  By Steve Mascord,  July 21 2003
NRL referees coach Robert Finch has asked judiciary commissioner Jim Hall to check video of Newcastle captain Andrew Johns verbally abusing an unidentified person at full-time in Friday night's loss to Penrith. Most of the 19,246 crowd at EnergyAustralia Stadium were oblivious to the incident, which occurred after the full-time hooter in the Panthers' 29-16 victory, which kept them alone at the top of the table. But Channel Nine cameras showed an animated Johns apparently abusing someone. Referee Tim Mander was heard to say, "is he having a go at me?" on Sports Ears, before shrugging and continuing to the dressing room. "I asked Tim about it and he said he didn't hear anything," Finch said.
"There was something a few weeks back where [Cronulla's] Danny Nutley was supposed to be getting stuck into the ref. I asked Jimmy to have a look at it and it turned out he wasn't talking to the ref at all.  "Andrew could have been talking to his teammates . . . At this stage, he's innocent."
NRL chief executive David Gallop said that, although the league was keen to crack down on abuse of officials, it was difficult to take any action if there was no complaint. While a charge is unlikely, the issue will provide Johns with an unwanted distraction when he attends his first training session with the Australian side at Aussie Stadium this morning.

Johns is feeling the pinch -  7sport.com.au,  22 July 2003 
Exhausted Test and NSW skipper Andrew Johns admits he's finding it harder to cope with the demands of the gruelling representative season as he gets older.  Johns went into the final Origin match last Wednesday suffering from `flu and then played a rugged match against competition leaders Penrith two days later. On Friday night he'll lead the Australian team in the Test against New Zealand at Aussie Stadium in his third match in nine days. "It's been really tough this year and it doesn't get any easier as you get older," said the 29-year-old after Australian team medicals. It's been such a heavy workload for all the players. I was lucky to play Friday (against the Panthers) so I just put the feet up all weekend and stayed at home.
I'm all recharged and ready to go. But Chris (Anderson) is a smart coach and I'd say he'd be pretty easy on us this week and make sure we're peaking at the right time."
Test coach Anderson allowed his players a relaxing day before they train together for the first time. "We won't be flogging them but we'll make sure they do enough to get focused on the game," he said of the world champion's limited preparation. You just have to keep the routine going. The tiredness is mainly mental so we'll just have short, sharp sessions. Physically they can handle things but they've been under pressure in State of Origin so it's hard to get up mentally."
Anderson admitted he was surprised at some of the New Zealand selectors' choices, saying "They're not going to try and go around us,  they've picked a big pack of forwards and a big bench so they'll work their big back-rowers off (halfback) Stacey Jones and keep coming at us all day."  Johns agreed with his coach's comments that the Test would be a "bash-a-thon".

Part time Joey -  SMH,  25 July 2003 
Andrew Johns, the world's best rugby league player, has become a part-time footballer after the Newcastle Knights moved yesterday to ease his playing and training burden. Johns, who will captain Australia against New Zealand tonight at Aussie Stadium and then back up again for his club on Sunday, has admitted for the first time he is feeling the strain of a heavy representative schedule.  And in a bid to freshen him up for the finals - provided a taxed Newcastle side make it - Knights coach Michael Hagan has told his champion he won't be required to train Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of each week. 
The move to juice up Joey comes a day after former New Zealand Test player Matthew Ridge told The Daily Telegraph he believed Australia were vulnerable because their players are tired after the State of Origin series. 
While Johns' part-time training program adds weight to Ridge's words, a Trans-Tasman brawl has erupted over the former Kiwi dual international's comments, which included claims the Wallabies are too old and have little hope against the All Blacks. 
The Knights swim every Monday, complete conditioning work on Tuesday and have optional fitness work on Wednesday - all sessions Johns can now miss. Hagan said Johns would be required at the Knights' main session on Thursday and at a second training run later in the week on either Friday or Saturday, depending when the Knights play. Fears that Johns is close to a burnout situation led to Hagan's decision.  "You've got to turn up to a game wanting to play and enjoy what you're doing," Hagan said.  "Joey is a bloke who has to have fun playing if you want to keep him playing well. We are trying to lighten the load. But it may only be for a couple of weeks. He might want to train more nearing the finals." 
Johns and Australian forward Gorden Tallis yesterday spoke of Ridge's comments that the Kangaroos look tired after an intense State of Origin series. Asked would he like a rest from football, Johns said: "I probably would. But at the moment the Knights are out of the top eight which is pretty foreign to us. "Hages (Hagan) is a smart coach. He'll give me a couple of days off at the start of each week. That will freshen me up." 
Johns said he wasn't concerned about Ridge's comments. "Matthew has his opinion and is a staunch New Zealand supporter," he said. "Maybe watching the game last week (against Penrith), his comments could be warranted. Last week I was knackered but I feel fired up for (tonight's) Test. It's a week since I've played and I'm ready to go. I feel fresh actually. Tallis admitted the Kangaroos were weary but would lift for tonight's big game. Come 7.30 Friday night I won't be worried how tired I am," he said.

Johns faces fitness test -  7sport.com.au,  26 July 2003 
Newcastle captain Andrew Johns will have a fitness test before deciding whether he'll play against Wests Tigers in Sunday's National Rugby League match at Campbelltown Stadium. Johns completed an exhaustive two months of representative football on Friday night when he led Australia to a 48-6 trouncing of New Zealand in a one-sided trans-Tasman Test at Aussie Stadium. Johns says he has a sore neck and will make a final decision on his availability for the Knights after consulting the club doctor.

Johns admitted the respect of his peers meant even more than his three Dally M medals and two Golden Boot awards.

A pack of Joeys but only one King -  July 27, 2003
THE biggest shock in the selection of the Australian rugby league team to play New Zealand on Friday night wasn't that Queensland managed to get seven players in the side. It was that the selectors bothered to name anyone apart from Andrew Johns.  To read the Sydney press you'd think the other 16 players were irrelevant. Worse, there was a risk they might get in Joey's way. Now look, I admire Andrew Johns as a player. I think he is very good. But the deification of Joey Johns is starting to become more than annoying. It is becoming a little sickening.  Johns has become one of those people who cannot be mentioned without a prefix. Like "rock historian Glenn A. Baker" and "disgraced detective Roger Rogerson", you can't pick up a Sydney paper without reading about "world's best rugby league player Andrew Johns". Yeah, he's good. Maybe even the best in the world in his position on his day. But there's been a lot of players like that. They come, they go. I reckon Joey should have another prefix: "World's best player if his forwards get on top." 
We all saw Origin III. We all saw the Broncos against the Knights at ANZ a few years back too. For the first half as his forwards set the platform we were watching "world's best rugby league player Andrew Johns". In the second half, when the Broncos forwards took over, that player was nowhere to be seen. Joey wasn't sighted. That's not putting him down. It takes a special player to be able to turn a game when he is going backwards. The type of player who comes along once in a lifetime.  In my lifetime I've only seen one. Wally Lewis. 
If Wally's team was getting a hiding, if his forwards were getting a touch up and the momentum was against them, Wally would do something. He might start bumping chests with Mark Geyer or take a tap and throw a lob pass to an unmarked teammate instead of the kick for touch that everyone expected. He might abuse the ref and get sent to the sin bin so that his team had to take matters into their own hands. Something, anything, but he'd do it. That's what set Wally apart from any other player as far as I'm concerned. Joey? He's great all right, but in my opinion no greater than Alfie Langer or Ricky Stuart or Peter Sterling or Steve Mortimer or Laurie Daley. They were all wonderful players but I don't think I ever saw them described as "world's best rugby league player". 
Bradley Clyde and Brad Fittler I saw described that way, even Ian Roberts, and just like Alfie, Ricky, Sterlo and all the others, on their day I'm sure they were. 
And that's only mentioning the ones I remember seeing. Ask someone in their 70s or 80s and they'll give you a whole list of players who were the Joey Johns's of their era. Yet we don't hear a call for them to be inducted as "Immortals", do we? We don't read these slavishly fawning reports about them and their superhuman skills. Now, it's not Joey's fault. He doesn't write the papers or do the television commentaries. He's not the one calling for elevation to the pantheon of the gods. He's just a footballer doing his best. Doing it very well too, but let's not forget that only a few short seasons ago he couldn't even get a run as halfback for the Australian side and it has taken him years to finally hold the Origin trophy aloft. I would suggest he still has a way to go before he dominates the premiership for as long as Sterling, Mortimer, Stuart or Langer did and regardless of his press (which seemed to drop off markedly after game III) he's still not in Wally's league at Origin level. So let's forget all this talk about induction to the Immortals, shall we? Let's just enjoy watching a good footballer play the game. 
Like thousands who went before him. And thousands who will follow. 
• Mike Colman talks sport with Greg Cary on 4BC 1116AM Wednesdays from 6.30pm. 

Joey's streak  -  Rugby League Week,  30 July 2003
Andrew Johns is a step closer to immortality.  The Newcastle Test captain has reaffirmed his status as the most dominant player of the modern era, with his peers voting him the best player in the game for an unprecedented fifth consecutive season.
In rugby League Week's exclusive annual Players Poll, a resounding 65 per cent voted Johns the best player in the game.  Speaking to RLW after leading Australia's assault on the Kiwi last Friday night,  Johns admitted the respect of his peers meant even more than his three Dally M medals and two Golden Boot awards. "Obviously the voting was done at a good time, right after the State of Origin series, but I take great pride in how the other players rate me,  to have your peers vote for you is the highest honour and this is the most important award to me, definately the most important."
In 18 years of voting, no player has dominated the annual poll like Johns.  Brad Fittler has won it three times, Sterling and Daley have won it twice. The landslide result re-ignites debate about John's place in the game, especially following the announcement of RLW's search for a seventh Immortal this year.  While John's is ineligable for the honour in 2003 as the Immortal title cannot be bestowed on a current player,  there is little doubt the Cessnock wizard will one day be honoured alongside the Immortal legends.

Joey the new Kings:  Alf -  Rugby League Week,  30 July 2003
queensland legend Allan Langer has showered the ultimate accolade on former rival Andrew Johns - comparing the Test captains leadership to that of Rugby League Week Immortal Wally Lewis.  Langer and Johns have become close mates, and were united in the Australian camp at Coogee last week.  Alfie presented the Kangaroo's with their Test jumpers and addressed the team on the eve of the match against New Zealand.  "Wally Lewis was the best bloke for lifting players and I think Andrew Johns is now right up there as well.  The way he can lift players even at this (test) level is incredible."
"I used to love playing against him because he has that great competitive spirit.  He steers the side around the park, tackles like a forward and generally leads with his experience."

Joey would solve Wallabies woes -  The Daily Telegraph,  2 August 2003
If the impossible suddenly happened and Andrew Johns went to rugby union, which position would he like to play?  No, Not halfback.  Five-eighth.  Thats where Johns thinks he would be of most value if rugby union embraced the simplist way of recitifying the current woes of the Wallabies by asking for this phone number.  "I think five-eighth would suit me best in rugby union."  Johns said.  Johns already carries Newcastle, NSW and the rugby league Test team on his shoulders.   Given the Wallabies current record only Johns can re-invent them as a World Cup force but if he takes on any more loads he will have to carry them on his head like a Jamaican woman taking washing to the river.  Former Wallaby captain and half Nic Farr-Jones agrees that five-eighth would be Johns position in rugby union.  "He would be a Wally Lewis type because he takes the ball to the line and causes havoc whereas rugby union halves tend to be links." Farr-Jones said.  "Johns has the vision, he makes right decisions and takes right options."
The best in football playing the best in rugby union has always been a football fantasy.  Johns says, "They'd smash us in rugby union and we'd smash them in rugby league.  We'd have to cope with mauls and rucks and lineouts. And they would be troubled by our advantage line running and angles."

Battered Johns in rescue mission -  The Australian,  2 August 2003
Andrew Johns is carrying more than the Newcastle Knights.  He's also got neck and groin injuries to cope with.  The Australia captain was punch drunk after three heavy hits in the opening 14 minutes of the Knights win over Manly at Energy Australia stadium.  Johns was hiding out on the wing in the dying stages of yesterdays match as Newcastle kept their season alive.  Newcastle blew an early 18-nil lead to trail 28-22 with 28 minutes left.  With their finals chances in danger, and playmaker Johns in pain, the Knights made the most of what Manly coach peter sharp called "dusty" refereeing by Steve Lyons. They scored three crucial tries in 11 minutes for an unconvincing but much needed win which kept them ninth on the ladder with five rounds to go.  Coach Michael Hagan said, "He (Johns) is probably struggling with a few things,  again he demonstrated his courage and led the team admirably in the second half to get us home.  We're always indebted to what he does on the football field."
Johns, who played despite a groin strain which he aggrevated yesterday and a neck problem he doesn't want to have scans on, was tackled high in the second minute by Manly second rower Sam Harris, who was placed on report.  "I fell into it."  said Johns, who gave up the goalkicking duties.  He put centre Mark Hughes over next to the posts but was crunched by former heavy weight boxer Solomon Haumono.  As if that wasn't enought, Johns was knocked over almost immediately by his own prop, Josh Perry, who barrelled his way to the tryline as Johns struggled to keep his feet in the background. "I copped a few knocks today...  you couldn't pick a bigger bloke to have run into you that Josh Perry.  We probably should have gone on with the job at 18-0 but I was always confident we'd get home."

Injured Johns soldiers on -  3 August 2003
Andrew Johns is carrying more than the Newcastle Knights. He's also got neck and groin injuries to deal with.   The Australian captain was punch-drunk after receiving three heavy hits in the opening 14 minutes of the Knights' 36-28 win over Manly in their National Rugby League match at EnergyAustralia Stadium.   Johns was hiding on the wing in the dying stages of the match as Newcastle kept its season alive.   Newcastle blew an early 18-nil lead to trail 28-22 with 28 minutes remaining.   With their finals chances in danger, and playmaker Johns in discomfort, the Knights made the most of what Manly coach Peter Sharp called "dusty" refereeing by Steve Lyons.   They scored three crucial tries in 11 minutes for an unconvincing but much-needed victory which kept them ninth on the ladder with five rounds to go.   "He (Johns) is probably struggling with a few things," said Knights' coach Michael Hagan.   "Again he demonstrated his courage and led the team admirably in the second half to get us home. We're always indebted to what he does on the football field."  "He (Johns) is probably struggling with a few things". Michael Hagan. Johns, who played despite a groin strain aggravated on Saturday and a neck problem he doesn't want to have scans on, was tackled high in the second minute by Sea Eagles' second-rower Sam Harris, who was placed on report.   "I fell into it," said Johns, who gave up the goalkicking duties.   Shortly afterwards the Knights' skipper sent centre Mark Hughes over next to the posts, but Johns was crunched by former heavyweight boxer Solomon Haumono.   As if that wasn't enough, Johns was knocked over almost immediately after by his own prop Josh Perry, who barrelled his way to the tryline as Johns struggled to keep his feet in the background. Knights' doctor Peter McGeogh said he expected both of Johns's injuries to "settle down" before next week's game against North Queensland.  "I copped a few knocks today ... you couldn't pick a bigger bloke to have run into you than Josh Perry," said Johns. "We probably should have gone on with the job at 18-0 but I was always confident we'd get home."

Sudden death will do us fine - Andrew Johns -  10 Aug 2003 
We aren't greedy here in Newcastle. Just over a month from the big end-of-season games, the Knights will take any position we can get in the top eight just to be part of the play-offs. What's that line about beggars not being choosers. We may not exactly be down on our knees, but we have put ourselves in a position where complacency just doesn't enter the equation. People say we can't afford to finish seventh or eight because that would mean an elimination game against possibly the Roosters or the Bulldogs in the first week of the play-offs. My response to that is seventh or eighth sounds pretty good given the fact we are ninth and a long way from being assured of a berth. I haven't looked at the draw and I couldn't tell you who the other teams meet over the final four rounds, or where any rival team is likely to finish. The focus for me has just been on the Knights and what we have to do to get there. Win every game is the focus. If we can do that, it should be good enough to at least put us in the firing line. Then anything can happen. If it is seventh or eighth and an elimination game first-up, we'll deal with that when the time comes. But it is important we don't get ahead of ourselves and lose focus. I always believe the team with the momentum going into the play-offs is the team which looms as the most dangerous. The Bulldogs are that side. They don't have any injuries - Braith Anasta aside - which is always aa big thing at this time of year and they seem to have timed their run beautifully. I DON'T have anyone to blame but myself for the groin problems I have had over the past week. I have managed to keep the problem in check for most of the season by looking after it with constant treatment and physio. But after a long and tough representative season, I put the feet up for a week or so and did absolutely nothing and have paid the price. It was like my body was telling me it was okay to have a rest, but the problem is still there and if you don't continually take care of it, you'll pay the consequences. I won't make the same mistake again, that's for sure.