Joey up for grabs  -  4 January, 2004,  The Sunday Telegraph
Newcastle have not made a formal approach to re-sign captain Andrew Johns, despite the danger of rugby union and English clubs moving in with bundles of cash.  Johns's manager John Fordham revealed he had a brief discussion with Knights football manager Mark Sargent on the matter when the halfback had last season cut short by a neck injury.  "That was probably about three months ago and there's been no discussion since," Fordham said yesterday. "My response at that stage was let's just see how he progresses with the neck injury.  "Obviously he's progressing well. The ball's in Newcastle's court."
It seems incredible that the Knights have not locked up their most prized player. Should Johns still be unsigned after the season starts, the speculation about which club or code he will play for in 2005 could detract from the premiership itself.  Bids for his services would start at $500,000 a season, but coach Michael Hagan said the emphasis is on Johns playing again after his neck scare.  "I've spoken to him informally and I know 'Sarge' has held some discussions with John Fordham about that, but he'll make that decision when he's ready," Hagan said.  "We're not about to apply any pressure. It's something hopefully we can work through with him and obviously we'd love him to continue playing for another couple of years with the Knights and that's what we'll be working towards. Ultimately that decision will be his and he'll have to weigh up a few things through the year."
The type of things Johns will have to weigh up include offers from rugby.  The 29-year-old has told friends he was impressed by the Rugby World Cup, especially the epic Australia-England final which he watched at Telstra Stadium.  The top rugby nations believe Johns would be an enormous success if he decided to change codes.  The Kangaroo captain has never ruled out playing rugby, either here or in Europe. Finishing his league career in the UK is also an option.
His former Kangaroos team-mate and now Wallaby winger, Wendell Sailor, has no doubt Johns could make it in rugby. 
"From league, 'Joey' and Darren Lockyer would be awesome," Sailor said.  "Joey's the type of bloke who could play on until he's 34 or 35, and Martin Johnson showed at the World Cup that you can still excel at that age. I've spoken to Joey a couple of times and he said he'd seriously love to give it a go. But it would be hard for him to leave Newcastle."
Playing against the Knights for another NRL club would seem unlikely, but Johns did consider an offer to join Brisbane when he last came off contract in 1999.  "Andrew and I have had a number of deep and meaningful discussions on beyond 2004," Fordham said. "No conclusion has been reached. All we've done is canvas the options available. Newcastle, as his current employer, are absolutely entitled to put a proposition to us for him to stay beyond 2004. Assuming the club contacts us in the near future, we would welcome an indication from them as to their intentions going forward."
Johns is still a chance to play in the World Sevens but is awaiting a final clearance from his specialist.  The Knights also have Ben Kennedy and Timana Tahu coming off contract.

Johns eyes rugby -  January 12, 2004,  The Daily Telegraph
Newcastle Knights officials will cocoon themselves around Andrew Johns in coming weeks in a bid to stop the champion halfback from joining rugby union.  As first revealed in The Sunday Telegraph on January 4, Johns is keen to try his luck at the 15-man game after witnessing first-hand the thrilling World Cup final between Australia and England in November. 
The belief in rugby circles is that Johns, off contract at the end of 2004, would make a smooth transition, provided he stays fit. He will attempt a return to the paddock in two weeks for the World Sevens tournament in Sydney after sitting out the tail-end of 2003 with a neck injury.  Rugby officials want to get the 29-year-old on board and in tune with the game ahead of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.  But the Knights will have first option on the star, meeting with Johns' manager John Fordham on January 24 to secure his future. "We'll certainly be doing everything within our power to retain him," Newcastle chief executive Ken Conway told The Daily Telegraph yesterday. "We think he's the best footballer in the world and a great bloke. He certainly hasn't expressed the desire to me to go to rugby union." 
Fordham said that at this stage he had no plans to meet with the ARU. "That's not to say I won't be," he said.  Fordham said playing rugby or joining another NRL club were options available to Johns. "I haven't got around to whether he could play with the Sydney Swans or be a movie star," Fordham said. "But I won't be hawking him around the clubs. Rugby is just one of the options. We are only in the middle of January and there's still plenty of time before we make a decision on Andrew." 
NRL boss David Gallop said he would be "very surprised" if Johns followed the likes of Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri as former Kangaroos to join rugby. "I saw Andrew Johns last week and he didn't indicate to me that he was interested in going to play rugby union," Gallop said. "All he could talk about was how excited he is about playing with the Knights. "I'm sure he'd be a great rugby union player, but I'd be very surprised if he went and played. We would miss Andrew Johns but there are plenty of people ready to step." 
Rugby World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer said Johns was one of the all-time great footballers who would succeed in rugby. "It's hard to believe that a player of his talent wouldn't go well in rugby," he said. NSW coach Ewen McKenzie said: "It's nice to see someone like Andrew Johns is interested in the game but our only concern now is preparing for our first trial match against the Chiefs on January 30." 

Wallaby move a chance for Johns -  By Margie McDonald,  January 12, 2004
Andrew Johns could become rugby union's most prestigious scalp yet from rugby league, but switching codes is one option from a long list, his manager said yesterday.  The Newcastle, NSW and Kangaroos skipper's contract with the Knights finishes at the end of the season and his options have been canvassed by Sunday newspapers on consecutive weekends. The latest was that he wanted to play in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Manager John Fordham said the interest was not surprising. But he bristled at suggestions the articles were appearing in a bid to raise the stakes in talks with Newcastle.  "I'm not really concerned with what people think," Fordham said. "The newspapers come to me because it's a quiet time for football and ask me questions so I answer them.   "Those stories were initiated by the journalists -- not me." 
Fordham said signing an ARU contract for 2005 was a viable option, but not the only one for Johns. The others were staying at Newcastle, playing for another NRL club, playing league in England or playing rugby union overseas. Newcastle president Michael Hill had no comment to make other than confirming the club had started talks with its 29-year-old star, who has played 206 games for the Knights and helped them to two premierships (1997, 2001). "We've just started discussions with John Fordham and we think they'll go on for some time, so I've got nothing to say further than that," Hill said. NRL chief executive David Gallop said he and every other league fan would not want to see Johns leave. "But it's a testament to his talent that this sort of speculation gets the sort of coverage that it's getting," Gallop said. He thought the crossovers from league to union would slow this year but expected it to build again as the next Rugby World Cup drew closer. "But given the season rugby league had in 2003, there's also a recognition that there's nothing like league that can provide week-in, week-out, high-calibre competition," he said. "During State of Origin, the high-profile league converts (Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri) and even the Wallaby coach (Eddie Jones) talked about the intensity of rugby league. I think it's a game footballers want to test themselves against on a weekly basis." 
Gallop said he had not spoken to Johns or Newcastle yesterday but chatted with the Newcastle captain at Steve Waugh's farewell Test as the SCG last week. "We spoke about the season ahead and he's very excited about it," Gallop said. When Johns last came off contract in 2000, the ARU offered him $600,000. But he wanted to stay with league and stay in Newcastle and signed until 2004. Fordham would not discuss what Johns might be worth now. There was no immediate comment from the Australian Rugby Union. If Johns did decide to jump ship at the end of the year, he would most likely play for the NSW Waratahs, who snared Tuqiri. "It's nice to see someone like Andrew Johns is interested in the game, but that's a decision for him some time in the future," 
 

Despite suffering a serious neck injury towards the end of last season his signature should still be worth around $500,000 a year.

We're keeping Joey -  January 12, 2004
Newcastle Knights officials will cocoon themselves around Andrew Johns in coming weeks in a bid to stop the champion halfback from joining rugby union.  As first revealed in The Sunday Telegraph on January 4, Johns is keen to try his luck at the 15-man game after witnessing first-hand the thrilling World Cup final between Australia and England in November. The belief in rugby circles is that Johns, off contract at the end of 2004, would make a smooth transition, provided he stays fit. He will attempt a return to the paddock in two weeks for the World Sevens tournament in Sydney after sitting out the tail-end of 2003 with a neck injury. Rugby officials want to get the 29-year-old on board and in tune with the game ahead of the 2007 Rugby World Cup. But the Knights will have first option on the star, meeting with Johns' manager John Fordham on January 24 to secure his future. "We'll certainly be doing everything within our power to retain him," Newcastle chief executive Ken Conway told The Daily Telegraph yesterday. "We think he's the best footballer in the world and a great bloke. He certainly hasn't expressed the desire to me to go to rugby union." 
Fordham said that at this stage he had no plans to meet with the ARU. "That's not to say I won't be," he said. Fordham said playing rugby or joining another NRL club were options available to Johns. "I haven't got around to whether he could play with the Sydney Swans or be a movie star," Fordham said. "But I won't be hawking him around the clubs. "Rugby is just one of the options. We are only in the middle of January and there's still plenty of time before we make a decision on Andrew." 
NRL boss David Gallop said he would be "very surprised" if Johns followed the likes of Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri as former Kangaroos to join rugby. "I saw Andrew Johns last week and he didn't indicate to me that he was interested in going to play rugby union," Gallop said. "All he could talk about was how excited he is about playing with the Knights. 
"I'm sure he'd be a great rugby union player, but I'd be very surprised if he went and played. We would miss Andrew Johns but there are plenty of people ready to step up and be the new stars of our game." 
Rugby World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer said Johns was one of the all-time great footballers who would succeed in rugby. "It's hard to believe that a player of his talent wouldn't go well in rugby," Dwyer said. "But there's some very good players at NSW and they might just turn it around this year. And I don't think NSW alone could afford him." 

Joey 'exploited' -  Comment by Ray Chesterton,  January 13, 2004
Ther recurring saga of Andrew Johns considering defecting to rugby union was a deplorable reflection on anyone involved and a blatant exploitation of the finest player of his generation. The Australian Rugby Union, perhaps exasperated at continually being portrayed as a predator by any player-manager looking for quick headlines, went public yesterday to deny Johns is a target. Which surprises no one. Johns has at best minimal interest and at worst, absolutely no interest, in playing rugby union. Friends say he does not even like the game. He no doubt appreciated the atmosphere at last year's World Cup without seeing it as an extension of his own football career. He had the talent to make the switch but the ARU says no one was interested and at 29 and coming back from injury why would he bother? 
Which makes the latest suggestion of him changing codes a manufactured melodrama of the most distasteful kind. The only motivation for such repeated thrashing of a deceased equine would be to generate a higher pay packet for Johns by dangling supposedly tempting alternatives to him staying in Newcastle. It is shameful and exploitative if that was the reason. It will be remembered that at no stage did Johns ever dignify the newest possibility of him switching to rugby union by giving an insightful and in-depth answer. For whatever reason he failed to give credence to the idea or associate himself with a circumstance he knew was not true and could be hurtful. Whatever forces and reasoning propagated the newest drama portrayed Johns as potentially disloyal to his home city of Newcastle and an audience that has deified him, forgiven him his occasional trespass and accepts him without question. Commendably rugby league is continually striving to improve its public image as a professional and modern enterprise, even allowing for the muddling with the Players Association,  That image has not been helped by blow-ins, blowhards and exaggeration connected with the farcial claims made about Johns going to rugby union. Without support from the ARU, no Super 12 side could pay Johns more than the maximum of $120,000 a season. He is already being offered more than twice that by Newcastle. Perhaps the media also has a more significant role to play in determining the spurious claims from the vast army of players' representatives now feeding off the earnings of footballers. 

Joey a Wallaby?! -  Inside Sports
It would surely be the heaviest defeat of all. The biggest kick in the teeth since Rupert Murdoch and his band of merry men hijacked the game during the '90s. Go on, you try to imagine it: Andrew Johns, the best rugby league player in the world, wearing a gold jumper. Playing rugby union. For Australia. Unthinkable.
Well, maybe not. Apparently Johns is weighing up whether he'll swap codes next season. This is not a new story, of course. Johns has considered the 15-man game before, but always stayed loyal to league. But now he's seriously taking it under consideration, especially with his contract with Newcastle about to expire and after sitting in the stands at Telstra Stadium when England beat Australia in extra-time. "I wanna do that," Johns apparently thought (they have great sources, these journos), salivating at the chance to line-up against his union equivalent, Jonny Wilkinson. Now league players would shudder to think his could happen. Those who love both codes, though, must be drooling at the prospect of Johns trying his hand at the rival code. As other league converts opined yesterday, Johns would brain 'em. Too strong, quick and talented. When it comes to his kicking game in general play, he has no peer in either code - and that includes Wilkinson. Same applies to his passing game. When he runs the ball, he's often unstoppable. Simply, he would make a superb fly-half. Whether Johns would make it union isn't the question here. It's about the notion of his greatness. Johns is considered by some to be the best league player of all-time. It's hard to dispute. But if he wants to transcend that, a successful switch to union would make him an icon in this country and much of the rugby playing world. Joey loves a challenge, and he's just about achieved all there is to do in league. If he can successfully lead the Australian side this year - something he was denied on the Kangaroo Tour because of his neck injury - and possibly squeeze in another State oof Origin series victory and premiership, the resume will be more than complete. He'll be 33 by the time the next Rugby World Cup rolls around. Whether his body can hold out to then is the ultimate question. If he believes it can, he should go for it. Rugby league diehards won't be happy, but they shouldn't brand him a traitor. Money isn't the issue here. Greatness is. And that's something Johns shouldn't be denied.

Welsh want Joey -  January 17, 2004
The Australian Rugby Union may deny a desire to recruit more rugby league stars, but the code's tentacles are still reaching to secure Andrew Johns with Wales joining the chase for his services.  A formal expression of Welsh interest in Johns' services has been made to the champion Newcastle Knights rugby league halfback's management. The approach came directly from Welsh Rugby Union chief executive and former NRL boss David Moffett this week to Johns' manager John Fordham on Thursday.  But Fordham said there was no discussion of specific details relating to a proposed deal in the out-of-the blue approach. Johns, 29, would qualify for Wales because of links going back to his grandfather who was a miner in the Rhondda Valley and emigrated to the steel city of Newcastle in Australia.  "David said: 'We would love to have him here in Wales.' He then said as former NRL chief executive he knew first-hand what value he would be to union," said Fordham. After the telephone call Fordham emailed Johns to inform him of the development. Fordham and Johns, currently off contract with the Newcastle Knights, are scheduled to meet with team management next week during the rugby league World Sevens to negotiate a new contract.  The Welsh offer, while preliminary, confirms Johns is still seen as a commodity by the 15-a-side game. He has given no indication, however, that he is prepared to switch codes. This week before contacting Fordham, Moffett told the Welsh media: "It seems logical that we should explore the possibility of getting him to play for and in Wales." 

To hell and back -  January 24, 2004,  writes Jessica Halloran.
When serious injury struck Andrew Johns, his football career flashed before his eyes. Now, fit as a bull, he's back in heaven, 
Last winter, when pain burned and buzzed from his neck down his left arm to his thumb, Andrew Johns faced his mortality. Every tackle he made shot searing daggers of pain through his body, simultaneously chilling him with the reality he might never play the game he loves again.  Rugby league would go on without Andrew Johns, an inevitability the champion blocks from his mind. He prefers talking and thinking about his league-tuned body. How good it is feeling. How, over this sweaty pre-season, his first full one in three years, he has pushed himself to utter exhaustion. The result is a body sculpted into a tanned nugget of muscle.
On the training field this week at Newcastle University, as cicadas sang in the morning heat, Johns stood out, not because of the hip khaki truckie cap, but because of the figure he cut on the grass.  Pointing his index finger here and there in the humid air, sprinting, swatting flies, squirting shots of water into his parched mouth, barking directions; Johns is back and clearly in charge. He says the most comfortable place on earth for him is on the football field - and it shows.  "I'm feeling really fit. The past two or three years I haven't really had a good off-season, first year I've had a full pre-season in ages, I've done every session," Johns says with energy and relief, barely able to sit still in his chair. "It would be up there you know, the results in fitness tests, equivalent of what I was in my early 20s."
Last August, a nervous sickness swirled in his emotions as he realised his career might be over.  "Every time I made a tackle or made a touch, I got this burning down my left hand, right down to my thumb, so it was pretty scary," he says.  "The time I really felt it go, it was up here when we were playing Penrith, I was trying to tackle one of those big gorillas, I think it was Tony Puletua, I remember hitting him and then getting a sharp pain in my neck and then played a Test match the week after, and then we played Manly up here and I copped a couple of big knocks on it then."
Johns had a protruding disc in his neck - the C4/5 disc was impinging on his spinal chord and C6 nerve - but it wasn't just the pain that was "scary".  "The specialist [Professor John Yeo] he was pretty frank, he told me pretty straight, if I required an operation I would be unlikely to play again. It was a big wake-up call, you know, there's more to life than just footy," Johns says.  It is [hard], but you realise as you get older you're not indestructible, there's more things to life than footy, I sort of had to start thinking about what else is going to happen in life."
So, what would come next?
"I don't know," Johns says, almost uncomfortably. He says if the opportunity was there he'd consider television commentating, and coaching definitely appeals.  But I'm lucky now my neck feels good so, fingers crossed, I put it off for a couple more years," says the league god of Newcastle more comfortably. Surely the coalminer's kid from Cessnock will see it out with the Knights.  "Uh, I don't know," Johns says candidly. "It's probably going to be my last contract, it's a big decision, really tough decision. to be honest I don't want to think about it until May, June. First priority is to get back on the field, which I guess everyone can understand that."  He starts autographing a poster, scrawling in silver pen "from my team to your team, Andrew Johns", and then thinks quietly out loud: "Yeah, it's going to be a hard one."  Is that because it may involve a move to rugby union, or is that just hype?  "No it's not paper talk at all," Johns says. "I went to the World Cup final and I was blown away by how good it was, its probably a challenge there for me, I get into a comfort zone and [I might want to] try something new. Something I'm not familiar with.  But that decision is a long way away, and it's lucky I've got options to go to, it's nice there are some options."
If anything at all will hold Johns to the Knights is his four-year-old son, Samuel, who is just starting to work out exactly who his father is in the port city.  "The big decision is going to be, I've got a little boy up here . . . so that's my priority seeing him, that's the big thing weighing in," Johns says. "He's just starting to realise what I do, he comes down the park when I kick the ball around, he kicks a soccer ball, he's pretty active."
Johns walks in a pretty strange land and notes that Steve Waugh recently found Newcastle's sports fan intensity "full-on". 
"When you are 21, and people go past screaming your name out of cars, you probably get a kick out of it," he says. "When you are 29 down the beach with your son, playing around, and people are screaming your name, it does wear a bit thin you know. But it's going to happen."
Johns accepts it. As he says a number of times throughout the conversation: "It's something that just goes with the territory."
Knights teammate and close friend Mark Hughes recently arrived at Johns's house, which overlooks the beach on a busy little road, after two P-platers had had a "little car crash" out the front. " I'm tipping they were looking into Joey's house, they were staring into his house" Hughes says. "Half of Newcastle knows where he lives."  Hughes will be sitting in Joey's lounge room just chatting, and in the background car horns will beep every few minutes. People will cry "Andrew Johns", "Go Knights" or "Knights suck".
It's natural for Johns to be sitting in a restaurant with his girlfriend Cathrine Mahoney and having people staring, pointing and gawking them for the entire meal. Even interrupting them.  "There've been some strange ones, strange times," Johns says smiling, slightly embarrassed. "Um, um, yeah but I've been in some weird situations. But don't get me wrong, I absolutely love it up here. Love it . . . but um."
Johns knows that if he meets someone who knows league, he pretty much knows what they are going to ask him before they start talking. He recounts the usual questions and answers with a exasperated smile on his face.  "Yeah my neck's fine. Are things going well with footy? Yes, my brother is a funny bugger, yes he gives me a hard time. Yes, I might go to rugby union, I don't know what I'm doing next year," he says. Johns has had a lot of people close to him ask why he has not moved.
He tells them: "I love playing for this club. I love living in the area.  Then he reflects: "Especially for younger guys it's important they know that the people around them are fair dinkum. I've got good people around me now."
Hughes describes Johns as a loyal, generous friend. They had neck injuries last year and were quite a sight around Newcastle with their matching neck braces.  When asked to describe what Johns is like he says: "He's just like the bloke you see sitting in the corner of the pub on a stool, having a few bets and beers, the only thing is . . . he's the best footy player in the world."
The best footy player in the world in a town obsessed with the Newcastle Knights - a big burden to carry.  Johns has been a wild man in a very public domain. There were the skateboards and the comical "oh yeah, oh yeahs" shouted into a microphone post-premiership 1997 before the then 21-year-old crowd-surfed off a stage into a street impossibly packed with Newcastle Knights fans. In old footage he looks like a man possessed by party gods. Last year, after partying in Kings Cross, he left with a "rock n' roll" tattoo.  "Oh!" he says, remembering. "Don't know what I was doing that night," he mumbles, half-cheeky, half-bewildered at the ink imbedded in his arm.  "I have a good time but I've slowed down a lot. I think it's a gradual process when people get older, you know, have kids and stuff. I don't feel old. I feel a lot more wiser and I try to pass that on to a lot of our younger guys.  "The things that were important to me when I was 21, have totally changed at 29 . . . I'm a lot more worldly now."
At the pool session this week, while his teammates donned briefs and conservative footy shorts, the "slowed down" Johns wore gawdy board shorts. While most of his teammates simply jumped in the pool, Johns pulled a marvellous bomb - twice.
Coach Michael Hagan says he's a "likeable larrikin", "an assistant coach", who has had to come to grips with his fallibility.
"He's a player turning 30 . . . He could play on at least four or five years more, if he looks after himself . . . we would like to see him finish his career at our club."
Who knows what will happen?
 

"I have new ones on my chest and forearm, but there is no real significance to them. Probably the least said about them the better because I know mum wants to kill me for getting them." - Andrew Johns

NRL teams set to chase Johns -  23 January, 2004
The fight for the signature of the greatest rugby league player in the world starts on Saturday with Andrew Johns and his manager John Fordham to hold preliminary discussions with NRL club Newcastle.  For the past month, Johns' future has been under conjecture with whispers the Australian Rugby Union wanted him, that the Australian captain may head to England to play out a lucrative league contract, and even a bold bid by Wales to grab him for their union team.  Johns has played with the Knights since making his NRL debut in 1993 and is seen as the heart and soul of the club. Despite suffering a serious neck injury towards the end of last season his signature should still be worth around $500,000 a year.  Manager John Fordham said the 29-year-old had four options - stay with Newcastle, join another NRL club, head to England, or switch to rugby union. Fordham said he had no idea how long it would take to make a decision.  "I'm just meeting with the Knights to talk about Andrew's future," Fordham said.  "There's no set timetable (for his future). It could take two minutes, it could two months, it could take one year. But first and foremost he's contracted to the Knights so courtesy to his current employer - that's why we are having a chat."
Fordham said rugby was a real possibility.  "He has been enticed before to go to rugby. It's a matter of record that the Australian rugby (union) made an all out effort to gain his services when his last contract was negotiated at Newcastle (in 2000)."
As for Johns' neck injury, Fordham said a neurosurgeon had consulted the halfback and Johns was now back in full training looking to make his comeback in a trial match towards the end of February.  A Newcastle spokesman said negotiations were only preliminary but the club was hopeful of tying up Johns before the anti-tampering laws finish on June 30. Johns made his first-grade debut against the Gold Coast on April 17, 1993, and has played 206 games for the Knights, helping them to two premierships (1997, 2001).  He has a Clive Churchill Medal, three Dally M medals, two Golden Boot trophies as the world's best player, 18 Origin caps for NSW and 17 Test appearances for Australia.

Hagan deal key to Johns -  January 27, 2004
The Newcastle Knights today identified re-signing coach Michael Hagan as the possible key to retaining star halfback Andrew Johns.  The Knights are desperate to retain Johns when his contract expires after the 2004 season, and held preliminary discussions with the Test captain on Saturday.  Johns, 29, is believed keen to know if the club will be able to keep other leading players - headed by representative teammates Ben Kennedy and Timana Tahu - who will join the champion No.7 on the open market come June 30.  Quite simply, he wants the opportunity to win further premierships after guiding the Knights to titles in 1997 and 2001.  And the players will be keen to see if Newcastle can retain its captain before committing themselves, creating the possibility for a contract stand-off.  But Knights football manager Mark Sargent said he didn't believe that would be the case.  He was hoping the club could reach a new agreement with Hagan in the coming weeks and believed that could prove decisive in getting Johns' prized signature. Hagan, who took the club to the 2001 title and will take over from Brisbane's Wayne Bennett as Queensland State of Origin coach, will also be off contract at the end of this season.  Sargent said the club had already set about keeping him in Newcastle. "If we were able to sign Hages up, I'm sure it would be a positive in our negotiations with Andrew," Sargent said. "He's as important - or the most important - factor in the process (of keeping Johnss).  "He and Hages work very well together."  Sargent said despite Johns wanting the Knights to retain his leading teammates before putting pen to paper, the Knights were viewing their captain and coach as the priority signings. "Our focus is on Andrew and Hages and then we will pursue the others," he said. "Andrew would be very aware of the fact we'd want to retain the others as well."   The success-driven Johns - widely considered the premier player in the game - is weighing up whether to stay with the Knights, join a rival NRL club, move to Britain or have a crack at rugby union.

The truth about this year and beyond - Andrew Johns - 1 February, 2004, The Sunday Telegraph
WHAT'S Joey doing next year? 
It seems just about everyone has a theory - everyone, that is, except me. I can't understand the constant speculation about where I may or may not be playing in 2005, especially when the 2004 season is a month away from kicking off. 
It has become an issue in the media and I am getting people on the street stopping me and asking the question I can't answer right now. The reason is pretty straightforward. I don't know because I haven't sat down and seriously considered it and probably won't for another three or four months. People can harp on it all they like, but I just can't see what all the fuss is about.  As you get older, time seems to whiz by pretty quickly but, right now, 12 months seems a long way off.
I'm happy to say my main option is to stay with the Knights and, hopefully, that is how things will turn out. But a lot can happen. Circumstances can change. 
It was only three months ago I was contemplating the possibility of not being able to play footy again. After what happened with my neck a month before the semi-finals, there were no guarantees of avoiding surgery. I absolutely dreaded the thought of that and it could have been the end. Thankfully, my neck improved with rest and I was given the all clear to play on. But while I have had the best off-season training preparation for three or four years, I really won't know for sure how my neck is going to stand up until I start playing again. Thinking beyond getting back on the field and making sure I am physically capable of playing the way I want to play almost seems like a waste of time. 
THE COMEBACK 
It will be in Cairns in a trial against the Cowboys a fortnight before the competition starts on February 28. That is when it will all go on the line, I suppose. I'm jumping out of my skin just wanting to get out there and play, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a certain amount of trepidation about how things will go. There is still some stiffness in my neck, but no numbness down my arms, which is really important, and I have been doing a fair bit of contact stuff in training. We have played a bit of beach footy and I have been tackling big guys like Matt Parsons and haven't had any drama. But it doesn't matter what you do at training, you can never fully simulate a game situation. 
RUGBY UNION 
I don't know where the rumours about me going to rugby started but they grew legs in an awful hurry.  I wasn't quoted anywhere about it, but that didn't seem to matter. I enjoyed the World Cup final and watch rugby quite a bit on the television, but I watch plenty more games of league. 
REP FOOTY 
Provided my form is good enough when the time comes, I'm looking forward to the rep season. It could well be my last. It is a decision I will make when the time comes, but I have seen how not playing representative footy has extended Freddy Fittler's career and it is something I will consider pretty strongly. There is no question the extra games and extra intensity of Origin take a toll on the body. There comes a time when you really have to think hard about giving something more back to the club that has paid all the bills. 
THE FUTURE 
Got a crystal ball? I really don't know. When the time comes, I will talk it over long and hard with my girlfriend, Cathrine, and my family and friends. My son, Samuel, will be a major factor in any decision I make. 
TATTOOS 
I have new ones on my chest and forearm, but there is no real significance to them. Probably the least said about them the better because I know mum wants to kill me for getting them. 

Joey's union blues -  3 February, 2004
Speculation about Andrew Johns linking with rugby union may harm his prospects of regaining the Australian league captaincy for April's Anzac Test against New Zealand.  Sources say some ARL directors are not happy about the Johns camp's flirtation with rugby with the star halfback's contract expiring at the end of this season. Although Johns denied contact with rugby officials in his Sunday Telegraph column last weekend talk about him switching codes won't go away. 
The Anzac Test match, thought to be off the international calendar after being vetoed by the Kiwis last year, is back on the agenda and has been scheduled for Friday, April 23 at either Aussie Stadium, Suncorp Stadium or Marathon Stadium.  A serious neck injury prevented Johns from leading the Kangaroos on last year's highly successful tour to England.  Should Johns settle his future in the game and sign a new contract with the Knights his chances of leading Australia again would improve immeasureably.

Johns vows roaring return -  By Barry Toohey,  22 Feb 2004
Andrew Johns has no plans to ease his way back into football when he makes his much-anticipated comeback for the Knights in a trial against North Queensland in Mackay on Saturday night.  It will be Johns's first serious hit-out since a severe neck injury put his career in jeopardy late last season.  But despite feeling some anxiety about his return, the game's premier player claims he won't be changing the way he plays.  "No, not at all - it will be full bore," Johns said. "You don't go into games half-hearted because that's how you pick up injuries, so I won't be hiding myself out there."
Physically, Johns has never looked better.  With a full off-season training schedule for the first time in three years, the Knights captain says he is the fittest he has ever been to start a season. The test against the Cowboys will be all mental.  "I haven't thought too much about it but I suppose there will be a bit of nervous energy there," he said.  "The neck still gets a bit stiff and sore after the physical stuff at training but I haven't had any problems with numbness down my arms, which the doctor has told me I have to watch out for.  Anyone who comes back from a pretty serious injury is always a bit apprehensive, but I am sure everything will be OK."
Johns's neck injury was one of last year's big stories.  He was forced to miss the final four games of the competition, the finals series and the Kangaroo tour after scans revealed protruding discs in his neck were pressuring his spinal cord.  Ironically, it was after a clash against the Cowboys in Townsville that Johns received the devastating news. Knights specialist Neil Halpin indicated at the time that a further knock to the area may have left the halfback in a wheelchair.  Johns wore a neck brace for six weeks and admitted he would contemplate retirement if he had to undergo corrective surgery.  The code breathed a collective sigh of relief when surgery was ruled out and Johns was cleared to resume his career after the injury repaired itself over time. But Johns will have the problem area monitored and is likely to have regular scans this season to ensure it does not flair up again. Knights coach Michael Hagan said he could not be happier with his captain's approach to training.  "He has trained the house down and been involved in just about every session and done everything asked of him," Hagan said.  "I think he is just busting to get back out there."
Johns indicated he would have volunteered to play against the Sydney Roosters last night at Nelson Bay if he had realised the NRL favourites would field a full-strength team.  "We have given a lot of our new guys a go as well as the young blokes and rested quite a few players," he said.  "We probably thought they would do the same and I would have put my hand up to play if I had known." More injury woes.

Johns backs Lockyer captaincy -  24 February, 2004
Andrew Johns says he would not have a problem if Darren Lockyer replaced him as Australian rugby league captain.  The star halfback is adamant he does not want the issue to drag on. Johns fronted a press conference in Newcastle today after being named the Knights' captain for Saturday's trial against North Queensland at Mackay Showground. It will be his first match since he was sidelined last August with a serious neck injury. Johns was reluctant to discuss a concerted Queensland push to install Lockyer as Test captain following yesterday's appointment of Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett as Australian coach. The 29-year-old Johns made it clear he did not want to get involved in another drawn out captaincy debate such as happened in 2002 when he and Brisbane forward Gorden Tallis were candidates for the job.  Johns was asked today whether he would be honoured to be named captain for the ANZAC Test against New Zealand at Newcastle's home ground EnergyAustralia Stadium.  "I haven't thought about it," replied Johns, who missed last year's Kangaroo tour to Great Britain and New Zealand because of the neck injury. And really, I don't want it to drag on like when myself and Gorden were running for it a couple of years ago. I just want it sorted out. I hope it doesn't drag on because there's not an issue between me and Locky.  I've said to him, if he gets the position, there's no problem and likewise for me. The sooner we find out the better." 

Jittery Joey puts neck on line -  February 27, 2004
One unlucky Cowboys player at least will be at the wrong place at the wrong time when Andrew Johns feels the urge to test out his neck injury when the Knights play their final pre-season trial at Mackay on Saturday night.  "You don't know what it takes to get your confidence back, it could be a good pass or a good tackle," Johns said after arriving at Mackay Airport yesterday afternoon.  I'd say it's maybe putting a good shot on in defence or probably being jumped on by one of the bigger boys and feeling OK." 
Still, a jittery Johns is keen to take to the field.   "I've been very nervous, especially the last week it has hit me, but it's not new to me coming back from injury. This was a pretty serious injury, being a neck injury, so I'm just looking forward to getting all the doubts out of my head and enjoying an injury-free game." 
Johns said his best off-season of training since he had been in grade football as well as six weeks of full-contact sessions were reasons why he was ready to play.  "I've been tackling blokes like Matt Parsons, he's upwards of 125kg, and Steve Simpson and there have been no worries. "It (the neck) still aches sometimes but that is because of the scar tissue in there, I just keep my fingers crossed that I don't do it again." 
Johns said Newcastle were hoping to make the most of the final pre-season trial.  "We want to get a bit of the rust out and get the combinations going - putting up a good performance.  "Getting your mind and body ready to take on 26 rounds this year, it's a big ask." 
But Johns feels the Cowboys will improve again this season.  "They will really push for a top-eight position this year. "Travis Norton has been a great buy for them and last year they lost a lot of close games and I think that this season, if they win those close games, then they will definitely get into the eight."   And Johns is already looking ahead to the representative program.  "It's the ultimate. I love playing for NSW and Australia. State of Origin is the pinnacle of football and I still want to do that."   But he was unconcerned about the Australian captaincy issue.  "Well they have to pick you in the team first - whoever they pick as captain will do a good job it's out of our hands." 

He's back -  By Barry Toohey,  28 February, 2004
Andrew Johns, rugby league's greatest drawcard, will put his playing future on the line tonight when he takes the field for the first time since suffering a career-threatening neck injury.  An otherwise meaningless trial between Newcastle and North Queensland up in Mackay has taken on unprecedented importance as the code sweats on the game's best player coming through the first real test of his injury unscathed. "I'm really nervous - probably as nervous as I have ever beenn leading into a game," Johns said just prior to a training session in Mackay yesterday afternoon. "I have done everything I possibly could have to prepare myself so I just have to wait to see how things pan out. "It is hot and humid up here and, to be honest, I just want to get the game out of the way without any dramas. "The neck feels good but you just need that assurance that there will be no further problems.  To get some confidence back - that's the most important thing." 
The Knights captain has not played since last August, when CAT scans showed that bulging discs in his neck were dangerously close to his spinal cord. It took six weeks in a neck brace and further rehabilitation before corrective surgery and a possible end to his career were ruled out. The injury cost him last season's finals series and a Kangaroo tour. Just to ease his concerns before flying to Mackay on Thursday, Johns sought assurances from top Sydney spinal specialist Dr John Yeo, after a series of scans earlier in the week.  "He was happy with everything so that eased things a bit," Johns said. "There are times when the neck still gets a bit sore after training but there has been no numbness in my arms which is the most important thing." 
Johns did not want to contemplate a further injury tonight. "I'm just being positive and not thinking about it at all," he said. Knights coach Michael Hagan said it was not only Johns who felt tense. "Obviously there is a little bit of concern there. I think everyone is feeling a bit on edge for him," he said. "Andrew has assured me he will pull himself out of the early exchanges but he is probably just telling me that to settle my nerves. It will more than likely take him a few games to really feel confident about his neck again but getting this one out of the way will certainly help." 
Hagan decided against using Johns in the World Sevens or in the club's first trial against the Sydney Roosters last weekend, hoping to ease some of the hype around his return. "I have Steve Witt up my sleeve to come on if Andrew needs a spell at any time," Hagan said. "He may play half a game or we may stretch it to three-quarters of a game depending on how he is feeling." 
Mackay league officials said yesterday interest in the game and Johns' return was "through the roof". Mackay Showground holds around 12,000 people and the game is tipped to be a sellout. 

Johns returns for Knights -  28 February, 2004
North Queensland 10 Newcastle 12
Test captain Andrew Johns made up for lost time as he successfully returned from a lengthy neck injury to steer the Newcastle Knights past the North Queensland Cowboys in their National Rugby League trial at Mackay tonight.  In his first game since August last year, Johns picked up where he left off to score Newcastle's first try, breaking the defence to set up the second and landing two converted goals to seal the hard-fought victory.  Johns had more work to do after the match as the Mackay fans swarmed the field to personally welcome back the class halfback.  "I'm fine," was all Johns said to the media before he was whisked away to the team bus as the crowd pounced. Minders ditched media arrangements as a record Mackay rugby league crowd of 11,200 streamed onto the field and pressed in on a police and security cordon protecting the game's most exciting player.  But Johns had already answered the question hanging over his head since he seriously injured his neck last year. Five minutes into the match Johns flew at the defence as the Cowboys came out hard off their line. He collected a tackle around his neck, shrugged it off and crashed over to score. "There was no problem with his neck," Newcastle coach Michael Hagan said. "I asked him about it a number of times. 
"We gave him 60 minutes and that is about what we wanted from him. "Sure he was blowing a bit but so was everybody else, that was an intense match and it was just what we wanted." 
Johns seemed intent on displaying his full array of skills in his 60 minute stint, impressing with his attacking prowess while also bruising in defence.  There were long kicks, short kicks and towering bombs, but best of all there was the passing game which kept Cowboys defenders guessing. Cowboys coach Graham Murray was beaming after his side had weathered the early Johns storm and lost to powerful Newcastle by just two points. Both coaches said they were expecting their players to pull up sore but they were not aware of any serious injuries. 

Joey pulls up 'great' -  1 March 2004,  The Daily Telegraph
Newcastle halfback Andrew Johns says his neck "feels great" after a successful return from injury in a trial match against North Queensland at Mackay on Saturday night.  It was Johns' first hit-out since August when he was sidelined with a serious neck injury.  Johns scored the opening try of the match after just four minutes and endured a heavy tackle from Cowboys forward Luke O'Donnell.  "The neck feels great," Johns said.  "It was a bit tight after the game but I woke up this morning [Sunday] with no problems in the world." 
Johns was heavily involved in steering the Knights to a hard-fought 12-10 win over the Cowboys. While at times rusty with his passing, Johns looked good for a player who has not played in six months. He can now look forward to a successful return, starting with the Knights' opening-round clash with premiers Penrith at Penrith Football Stadium on March 12. Knights coach Michael Hagan admitted he was a little nervous watching his key player in action.  "Joey got through the match remarkably well," the Queensland Origin coach said. "I asked him a couple of times and he is pretty confident that his neck is OK," Hagan said. "He was probably blowing a bit like everybody else but he will run into nick pretty quickly.  "He did everything to test himself out. He was doing that at training and we just hoped he could translate that on to the park. So we have just got to get through the first couple of games now." 

Some positives from NRL launch - 4 March, 2004
After enduring one of its darkest chapters, the National Rugby League needed a laugh - and it came from one of the most unlikely sources last night. Renowned joker and Test halfback Andrew Johns was called to officially launch the 2004 NRL season at Sydney's Circular Quay although his surprise partner stole the show.
Anyone who is anyone in Sydney league and social circles piled into the Overseas Passenger Terminal - but it was an unknown who provided a much needed laugh at the sometimes tense launch. After being selected as the face of the 2004 launch through a newspaper ad, Glen Innes council worker Alan Collins lapped up the limelight as he chewed the fat with his "nemesis" Johns in a much needed lighthearted moment for the NRL which endured a tense week due to the Bulldogs scandal. Collins, 56, was the diehard St George Illawarra fan made famous during Channel Nine's coverage of Newcastle's 32-30 win over the Dragons at EnergyAustralia Stadium on June 13 last year. Images of Collins and his Knights-supporting friend were telecast throughout the game, which ebbed and flowed until Johns's match-winning sideline conversion after the siren. After being identified through an ad, Collins has now become one of the new faces of rugby league - and seemed very comfortable with his neew tag as he sparred with Johns. "It cost me $50 that kick," said Collins tonight. "I had the round picked except for that game and that would've been a bonus of $50 in our tipping comp so that was a bit of a shame." While Johns is still recovering from a neck injury, he may have something else to worry about thanks to Collins who claims to be working on a new jinx as Johns lines up a kick. "I've been practising on my maggots, maggots, maggots jinx when Johns kicks," he laughed. "I've been doing it on the golf course lately and my mates have been missing some putts so I reckon it's going to kill him (Johns) this year." Collins also joked that he had promised his mates that he would return home to the northern tablelands town with Johns' right foot.

Gut check for Joey and co -  By Peter Frilingos,  19 March, 2004
How does Joey's six-pack relate to Newcastle's prospects of getting back to the winner's podium on grand final day this year?
Andrew Johns won't talk about his sculptured look but Knights coach Michael Hagan says his superstar halfback is proud of it.  It's the result of 16 straight weeks of intensive team training with Johns being available for the entire campaign for the first time in his stellar career. The off-season fitness regime has transformed the side into a defensive force to be reckoned with - as the Panthers found out last week.  Even when they won the premiership in 2001 there was a theory about the Knights and their tackling.  It said they were not too concerned about their leaky defence because they were confident of always out-scoring the opposition.
With Johns, Ben Kennedy, Danny Buderus, Timana Tahu and Matthew Gidley on deck that proposition probably delivered the goods more often than not. Newcastle could always defend for up to 15 minutes against repeat sets of six tackles but up until last Friday night at Penrith Stadium they had never done it for the best part of 80 minutes.  Last year the Knights finished the season knowing they needed to drastically update their defence or risk losing touch with the leading sides.
Hagan says performance co-ordinator Lee Clark can take much of the credit for the Newcastle squad's fitness transformation. And he points out that Johns is not the only player in the squad with an impressive six pack, thanks mainly to Clark's program. "Joey hasn't missed a field session in 16 weeks," Hagan says.  "If you looked at his pre-seasons in other years when I've been here it's been post-season surgery or representative football which meant he didn't have the opportunity to get stuck in and do the work. Ben Kennedy's the same, so is Danny Buderus and Timana Tahu, among others. Lee Clark has done an excellent job in the pre-season and our attitude has changed too.  We realise the game is getting harder and defending is the most difficult part and you've got to be working hard all the time to be good at that part of the game."
Hagan says there is probably some truth in the theory that the Knights have often relied on their attack to overcome defensive deficiencies.  "But that's not we've set out to do," he says. "It now comes down to being able to defend consistently and while last week was good and we're getting plenty of positive stuff coming our way it won't mean bugger all if we can't back up on Sunday or in round 24.  That's the challenge for our team."
Newcastle's tackling credentials were sorely tested in the second half against the Panthers when, at one stage, they held the premiers out for 23 tackles.  That's where the Knights' supreme fitness made the difference.  "We didn't have a lot of the football in the second half and we were out on our feet but we were still desperate and working hard for each other," Hagan says. "That's where possession really goes against you, it's hard to keep on top of things all the time. That's where we can shoot ourselves in the foot by not controlling the ball."
Last year the Knights were not the same side defensively without Johns, Kennedy, Steve Simpson and Matt Parsons for extended periods of time.  "They have a lot to do with how we defend as a team," Hagan says.  "If we can keep them there and our structure's a lot stronger hopefully we can improve on what we did defensively last year."
Johns, Kennedy and Buderus, in particular, train individually outside team requirements and, as Hagan says, that's what makes them Test players.  "Joey understands he has to look after himself a bit better these days and his diet is part of that equation as well," Hagan says.  "Joey is also pretty proud of his six pack."
There it was for all to see on the Channel 9 post-game coverage last Friday night as the Knights celebrated an impressive victory.  The sight of Johns in that condition and his form on the paddock is likely to have more than the usual daunting effect on opposing sides at club, interstate and Test level. 
Buderus might have been a reasonable choice as man of the match with Kennedy and Kurt Gidley also in the frame. But they all feed off the genius, speed and strength of Johns.  It's easy to see what he does with the ball in his hands but his tackling is probably more of an inspiration to his team-mates than his attack.  Johns is one of those rare breeds of halfback who revel in the heavy body contact of the trenches. The tougher the going the more he likes it.

We're all spoilt: By Newcastle captain Andrew Johns -  21 March, 2004
There have been plenty of times over the years when I have asked myself what I'd be doing if I wasn't playing footy.Maybe driving a truck or labouring somewhere. I don't really know because I have never had to worry about it. Footy was always my passion and, fortunately, I have been lucky enough to turn it into an extremely well-paid profession. But thinking about what life would have been like without rugby league is a dose of reality I've sometimes had to subject myself to when I've felt snowed under by the pressure. It gives you the jolt you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself.   Truth is, players today are spoilt. I'm spoilt. We travel around the country, stay in great hotels, enjoy good food and plenty of freebies, have everything organised for us and are feted as heroes by our fans. And we are very well paid to do it. All for being good at a game we love playing. Trouble is, there are probably not too many players who think that way. We all get caught up in our own little world and lose sight of reality. I wonder how the guy who spends 60 hours a week down a coalmine is feeling when he hears of players struggling with personal issues and motivation to continue playing. Or the young family man with a couple of kids who has to work overtime every week just to keep the bills from mounting up. Somehow, I doubt there will be a lot of sympathy out there in the real world from people like them. Now, I am not being critical of individuals here because there have been times when I have wanted to chuck it all in myself.  Kids are signing contracts with clubs even before they have left school and not getting that taste of what the real world is like. Some don't even have to go through the dramas most of their school mates face - like looking for a job. Everything just falls into their lap. But clubs need to make sure these young kids are watched closely, particularly those who don't have a close support group of family and friends around them. That seems to be the key. It also falls back on senior players and the individuals themselves to recognise there may be tough times ahead and prepare for them. The sad part is when players turn their back on the game because they don't feel they can handle things at the time. They usually regret it down the track when they think of what might have been. 

Parra win as Johns out for season -  28 March, 2004
Andrew Johns had his season cut short for the second year in a row after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament at Parramatta Stadium last night.  Parramatta won a thrilling match, but that hardly mattered as the Knights and rugby league came to grips with losing Johns after just three rounds of football.  In the latest stunning blow to the code, Johns was taken from the field in a medicab after 19 minutes of the match against the Eels.  He disappeared up the tunnel on the back of a medicab and with him, most would agree, went Newcastle's premiership chances. "From the initial examination by the team doctor he's done his anterior cruciate ligament," said a grim-faced Newcastle media manager Steve Crowe.  "If the scans prove that, then he's out for the year and having a reconstruction."
Johns left the field with his team down 14-6. Although the Knights fought bravely, it was a controversial late try to Eels centre Junior Langi, only confirmed after a dozen checks by video referee Mick Stone, that saw the home side win a try-fest. Disaster struck for the Knights when Johns was taken from the field, clutching his knee, his head bowed.  Reports that he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament and was out for not only the match but the season seemed to seal the fate for the Knights.

Johns' story takes a cruel twist -  28 March, 2004 -  The Sun-Herald
The horror of last night continued an incredible and emotional roller-coaster ride over four years for Andrew Johns in which he has sustained a series of major injuries, won a premiership and become captain of both NSW and Australia. He must be at the lowest ebb of his career. After tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Parramatta he is contemplating the rest of the season out of football.  No premiership campaign with the Knights, no State of Origin series for the Blues, no Test for Australia against New Zealand next month and no tri-series for Australia against the Kiwis and Britain in England at the end of the season.How much more can the world's greatest player take?
The bad luck began for Johns in 2001, when he tore the medial ligament in his knee in the first half of the season and was out for two months, missing not only a string of games for the Knights but also the Origin series. But he showed his character when he returned from injury to lead Newcastle to their second premiership, beating Parramatta 30-24 in the grand final.  Then, in 2002, Johns broke three bones in his lower back against St George Illawarra on the first weekend of the finals series. The Knights were leading when he was hurt early in the match, but the injury ended his season. The Knights went on to lose that game without him and were eliminated the following week.  Last year Johns suffered a bulging disc in his neck and missed the latter part of the season. The injury was so serious there were fears it would end his career.

Johns to undergo surgery -  29 March 2004
After undergoing an MRI scan today, the original diagnosis of a torn anterior cruciate ligament to Knights skipper Andrew Johns has been confirmed.   At this stage, it is likely he will undergo corrective surgery on April 2.   Knights rookie fullback, David Seage also had his fears of a similar injury confirmed today and faces surgery in the short term as well. Speaking today, coach Michael Hagan said he and the team were extremely sorry for both players, but were determined to rise to the challenge of their long-term absence from the side. "I spoke with Andrew yesterday morning and he is quite up-beat, all things considered," he said. "I know that he intends going to the gym this afternoon, which is an indication of where his mind is at. I do know that anyone who understands what makes him tick, would have a great deal of confidence in his ability to fight back from this set-back. 

Johns vows to fight back - but will it be in NRL? -  28 March 2004
Newcastle captain Andrew Johns today vowed to fight back from his third season-ending injury in as many years - but the NRL may have seen the last of the world's best rugby league player. Johns today wasted little time in scotching suggestions he would struggle to return from the knee injury he suffered during Newcastle's loss at Parramatta Stadium last night, releasing a statement through the club in which he said he was intent on getting back on the playing field. However, it remains to be seen whether that's in the NRL. The 29-year-old is off contract with the Knights at the end of the season and his future remains in limbo as rugby union and English rugby league clubs circle.  "One thing I will say, regardless of how things turn out I am determined to fight back from this and get back on the playing field," Johns said. "In the meantime I am looking forward to giving Michael Hagan a hand with the team over the next six months. The extent of the injury probably hasn't hit me yet so I am asking people to give me a little time to deal with it in the short term. I know my injury is of interest to rugby league fans but I am asking for some privacy over the coming days" 
Johns and his manager John Fordham have begun talks with Newcastle but are in no hurry to sign a new contract.  The pair spoke this morning and Fordham was "buoyed" by Johns' upbeat attitude. "In terms of his future we spent most of the time talking about his next game, whenever that may be," Fordham said.  "Age is not an issue at all. Why should it be. The issue is whether or not he'll be fit to play football and he'll be fit play football. He's bitterly disappointed that this has happened but he's the first to recognise that he's playing a contact sport. I think considering the disappointment form last night, he's fine. It's pretty well on track to get himself better and get himself back into football." 
Newcastle certainly remain keen to retain Johns despite his recent run of injuries. "As far as we're concerned he's still the best footballer in the world so we haven't changed our plans," chief executive Ken Conway said. "We're negotiating slowly. Joey's (Johns) certainly in no hurry to make his mind up. I don't know if this will change that from his side." 
What will change is Newcastle's prospects of winning the premiership, Australia's hopes of beating New Zealand and NSW's chances of retaining the State of Origin trophy.  Johns' injury is a savage blow to a code already reeling from the Bulldogs sex scandals, recent officiating blunders and crowd problems. Brisbane and Australian coach Wayne Bennett, who would have had Johns under his charge with the Kangaroos next month, today admitted the classy No.7 was irreplacable. "The game loses at every level," Bennett said. "He's one of the champions of our game and we're not going to get to see him play probably this year. So we're all a little poorer for that. I don't want some official telling me we can replace him because you can't replace those sorts, they're champions and you don't replace the champions. Someone else comes along but you don't replace them." 
It's the third time in as many seasons that injury has cruelled Johns. In 2002 a back injury prematurely ended his season while in 2003 a neck injury threatened his career. After receiving the all-clear to resume training, Johns threw himself into his pre-season training and was as fit as any time in his career. "Obviously a cruciate ligament tear is tragic at any time but the fact that it's occurred to me so early in the year and after such a strong off-season makes it all the more so," Johns said. Johns will have an MRI scan tomorrow which is expected to confirm he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligamen and will undergo surgery within two weeks. 

Joey vows to return but it might be good Knight -  29 March, 2004
Andrew Johns will sign a two- or three-year football contract in the next couple of months regardless of his season-ending knee injury - but his agent has given no guarantee the former Australian captain will play another game of rugby league.
Johns will undergo scans in Sydney today but is at long odds to play again this season after suffering cruciate ligament damage in Saturday night's 38-34 loss to Parramatta.  The player recognised as the finest in the world has spoken of his desire to try rugby union. His contract with Newcastle expires at the end of this season.  "Without minimising the seriousness of the injury, this will not affect Andrew's negotiations," manager John Fordham said. "He will be signing a two- or three-year contract in the coming months to play football. I was with him in Newcastle today and we spent a lot of time talking about his next game of football."
Asked if this meant Johns was staying in league, Fordham replied: "I said football." 
The Knights last night issued a media release quoting Johns, 29, as saying: "Obviously a cruciate ligament tear is tragic at any time, but the fact that it has occurred to me so early in the year, and after such a strong off-season, makes it all the more so.
"The extent of the injury probably hasn't hit me yet. One thing I will say is that regardless of how things turn out, I'm determined to fight back from this and get back onto the playing field."
New Australian coach Wayne Bennett said: "He's one of the champions of our game and we're not going to get to see him play probably this year. So we're all a little poorer for that. I don't want some official telling me we can replace him because you can't replace those sorts, they're champions and you don't replace the champions."

Now it's coach Joey -  By Laine Clark,  29 March, 2004
An MRI scan may have confirmed Andrew Johns will miss the rest of the National Rugby League season today - but the world's No.1 player will still form an integral part of Newcastle's 2004 assault.  The Knights halfback and skipper's worst fears were confirmed today when he was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and was expected to undergo a reconstruction on Friday. But his manager John Fordham said an "upbeat" Johns would still serve in an assistant coaching role in a bid to steer the depleted Knights toward a finals campaign. "The fact that he can't play, he still has a contract with the club and services are provided under the contract are on top of playing football," he said. "There's a whole range of services...that he is required to provide so he'll be doing that (assistant coach), yeah. The only thing he can't do is play but he can do other things. Under the circumstances he is very positive." 
It's the third time in as many seasons that injury has cut short Johns' season. Johns went down in the 21st minute of Newcastle's loss to the Eels at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night in a horror night for the Knights. Knights coach Michael Hagan tried to put on a brave face today after the "worst case scenario" was confirmed. "Medically our worst fears were confirmed. Andrew has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and also torn cartilage which is reasonably common with that type of injury," he said. "I understand he was back in the gym this afternoon, working on that upper body of his so I guess that gives a good indication of his state of mind. I guess the only positive to come out of it is that he'll get it (reconstruction) done straight away and he'll start his rehab." 
Hagan scotched talk that the injury marked the end of Johns' career. I do know that anyone who understands what makes him (Johns) tick, would have a great deal of confidence in his ability to fight back from this setback." 

Joey's weighting game -  30 March, 2004
They were hardly the actions of a champion considering retirement.  Less than an hour after scans virtually ruled superstar Andrew Johns out for the rest of the season yesterday, he was back in the gym lifting weights. The Newcastle captain will undergo surgery on Friday to repair a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and torn cartilage in his right knee suffered against Parramatta on Saturday night.  He will be sidelined for six months. But despite another heartbreaking injury setback for one of the game's greatest players, Johns has confirmed he has not even contemplated retirement. And Knights coach Michael Hagan has no doubts he will be back.  "The fact he was back in the gym, working on that upper body of his gives a pretty good indication of his state of mind and that he is determined to get himself back in shape," he said. The injury has devastated the star halfback. He refused to talk publicly yesterday, saying only that he needs a few days to get his head around what has happened.  Leading specialist Dr Neil Halpin said Johns would require a complete knee reconstruction. "As knee injuries go, it is as bad as it gets," Dr Halpin said.   "He has torn it [the ligament] right off and has suffered a torn cartilage as well which is consistent with this type of injury. He will need a reconstruction which we will do on Friday and he'll be six months without football. "While some players have tried to come back early, it is really a six-month injury."   Asked if Johns could get back on the field in time for the big end-of-season games should the Knights reach the playoffs, Halpin replied: "I suppose I wouldn't totally rule it out. He is the type who would pester you to death to get back out there if he could."

Laughter is the best medicine for stricken Joey and his surf mate -  2 April, 2004
Even as the impact of his season-ending knee injury was beginning to sink in last Sunday, Andrew Johns was still at his scheming best.  With television crews and newspaper photographers camped on his front doorstep, Johns decided to lend his crutches to a stunt double in a bid to mislead the waiting media corps. Not long after, footage of Newcastle surfer Beau Emerton posing as Johns on his balcony and walking around his front yard was broadcast on The Footy Show, and it ran again later on Channel Nine's evening news.  "We absolutely cracked up," Emerton told Sin Bin yesterday. "Joey was in a fair bit of pain and he was starting to get the shits, so we both decided that we needed a bit of a laugh.  He has always liked joking around and I'm a bit of a joker myself so I put the hat on, got changed into a red shirt and went outside with the crutches. Half-an-hour later it was on telly, so there were high fives going down inside, and the cameras left after that."

Joey's lung scare -  10 April, 2004
Newcastle captain Andrew Johns was rushed to hospital yesterday with a potentially life-threatening blood clot in his lungs following season-ending knee surgery less than a week ago.  Johns complained of chest pains and spent a sleepless night on Thursday struggling to breathe before seeing club specialist Dr Neil Halpin yesterday morning.  He was immediately admitted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle where scans confirmed the blood clot.  Johns was on medication last night to break down the clot and is expected to remain in hospital for up to three days.  "I was struggling to breathe and hardly slept last night," Johns said. 
Halpin refused to play down the seriousness of the clot.  "People die from blood clotting. If it is not treated, it can be life-threatening," he said. "The clot has more than likely developed in his pelvis before travelling to his lung."
Johns admitted to being concerned as well: "I didn't know what was going on. I had to sit up to get my breath and I had these chest pains as well.  Neil took one look at me this morning and put me straight back into hospital. It looks like I will be in here for up to three or four days. I just can't seem to take a trick."
Johns has had a fortnight he will quickly want to forget.  It began when he tore the anterior cruciate off the bone in his knee against Parramatta, ruling him out for the season. He underwent surgery in Sydney a week ago to reattach the ligament but two days after being discharged, he was back in hospital after it was feared he may have contracted an infection. He was released again last Wednesday when given the all clear only to be struck down again with the blood clot.
Halpin said he was taking absolutely no chances when he first saw Johns yesterday.  "I'm not saying Andrew was in any immediate danger but you don't take any risks with something like this. It can be extremely serious. I told him he should have called me last night when he was really struggling but I'm glad he came in when he did."
Dr Halpin said the clotting had developed as a direct result of Johns' knee surgery last week despite measures taken to avoid such a risk.  "Andrew was on anti-coagulants to prevent blood clotting while in hospital following the surgery," he said.  "When he went back into hospital during the week because we thought he had an infection in the knee, he even had a scan done to check for blood clots in his leg.  That came up clear which leads me to believe this clot might have developed in his pelvis before spreading to his lung. Whatever the case, Andrew is getting great treatment in John Hunter hospital and should be out in a couple of days."
Halpin said the odds of Johns developing a clot should have been pretty remote.  "I would say the risk in his regard would probably be about 1 in 500 people getting them," he explained. "Andrew is just one of the unfortunate ones but given what he has gone through the past few weeks, he is handling things very well."
Johns, who is being treated with both Heparin and Warfarin, drugs which help thin out the blood, is expected to be on medication for at least the next three months to prevent clotting occurring again.  "It won't have any affect on his recovery from the operation or his ability to play football again in the future," Dr Halpin said.

Johns gives team a boost -  April 15, 2004,  The Daily Telegraph
He was no ordinary face in the crowd yesterday as fans gathered to watch the Knights during a light-hearted beach training session in Newcastle.  Andrew Johns, on crutches following season-ending knee surgery and finally out of hospital after a serious health scare, stuck his head in at training for the first time since the injury to offer moral support ahead of Sunday's big clash against Sydney Roosters at a redeveloped EnergyAustralia Stadium. He caught up with several players as the session wound up including Kurt Gidley, the youngster filling his shoes so well at halfback. Earlier in the day, Johns sat in on a video session with the team which highlighted their backs-to-the-wall win over the Warriors in Auckland last weekend. "It was good to see him out and about again," Knights coach Michael Hagan said. "Everyone is pretty buoyant after our win last week and looking forward to taking on the Roosters and having Andrew around the place is good for everyone." 
For the first time since the start of the season, the Knights came through a game without any injury clouds over any of their players. "We should be right - we have Matty Parsons back on the bench and we are starting to get a few others back as well, with Mark Hughes and hopefully Anthony Quinn playing Premier League," Hagan said. The club is expecting a full house of more than 23,000 for Sunday's clash.

NRL to help keep Joey -  25 April, 2004
NRL boss David Gallop yesterday offered to directly involve himself in renegotiation talks with the game's best player Andrew Johns in a bid to keep him in the code next season.  The injured Newcastle captain comes off contract at the end of the season but despite a belief among some in the game that he will see out his career with the club, there are no guarantees.  Knights officials met with coach Michael Hagan last week to form a strategy to keep Johns at the club amid fears a "curiosity" factor and the potential financial lure of rugby union may see him switch codes.  The Knights plan to step-up negotiations over the next two weeks.  There was also an informal get-together last week between Johns, Hagan and Test coach Wayne Bennett where the possibility of him switching codes was raised.  It is believed Bennett cautiously advised against such a move.
Gallop said yesterday he would be prepared to get involved if he was asked by the Knights.  But he said the NRL will not be throwing a bagful of money at Johns to persuade him to stay.  "Whatever assistance we could provide would have to be within the perimeters of the salary cap but we would be prepared to help if we could," Gallop said. "Obviously, we'd hate to see Andrew lost to the code."
Asked what the NRL could offer, Gallop replied: "He is starting to carve out a career in commentary and we could certainly assist with that but there could also be some opportunities with our existing sponsors which we could explore that are generally dealt with outside the salary cap.  "We would certainly be prepared to sit down with the Knights to discuss it."
Johns' other career options include investigating what are certain to be lucrative offers from English clubs or waiting until the June 30 deadline expires and testing his worth at other NRL clubs.  The Knights star remains noncommittal about his future as he continues with his rehabilitation following knee surgery.  According to his manager John Fordham, the only negotiations taking place at the moment are with the Knights.  "Andrew hasn't expressed a definite direction for his future at this stage," Fordham said. "We have obviously spoken about his options but there has been no indication from him one way or the other.
"We have an offer on the table from the Knights and discussions with the club continue but I haven't made contact with the rugby union or any English clubs.  That would only occur if Andrew decides he wants to go down that path but I don't think there is any doubt about the level of interest that is there."
While saying the Knights will be doing everything in their power to retain Johns, Hagan said the final decision rested with the player.  "It don't think there is any doubt he has some curiosity with the other code," Hagan said.  "But he has been a huge part of this club and has given his heart and soul to the joint and people should not forget that.  If he wants to play our code, we are confident he will continue playing here and we are going to do everything we can to facilitate that.  But at the end of the day, it is a decision Andrew has to make for himself."