Andrew Johns

Sahafan/Sandbox/Andrew Johns
Personal information
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing information
Position	Half-back
Club
Representative

Andrew "Joey" Johns (born May 19, 1974) is an Australian rugby league player. He usually plays half-back, but has played in other positions at times throughout his career.

Johns currently captains the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League, for whom he has played a record 242 games (as of 2-Aug-2006). Johns has also represented his country at two World Cups, and one Kangaroo tour, playing in 21 Test matches for the national side. He played in 23 games for New South Wales in State of Origin, captaining the side to a series win in 2003, and twice for the Country Origin side in 1995 and 1996.

Rugby League career

Early days

Andrew Johns was born in Cessnock, in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, a rugby league heartland. Johns was the son of a coal miner and country rugby league player who also coached the sport in the district. Johns and his brother Matthew both played the sport from a young age.

After playing junior rugby league in Cessnock, Andrew Johns joined the Newcastle Knights in 1989. Although he was tested off the bench in the 1993 season, he made his first grade debut in the starting line up in 1994, when, in the last trial of the year, Matthew Rodwell, Newcastle's regular halfback sustained a knee injury giving Johns an opportunity against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. In his debut match he scored 23 points and won the man-of-the-match award, making an immediate impact. He soon formed a partnership with his older brother Matthew, who played five-eighth.

1995-2001

The 1995 season saw prosperous times for Johns, as he was picked to represent New South Wales in the prestigious State of Origin competition and went on to play in Australia's successful retention of the World Cup in England. Success for Johns continued through into the 1996 season, until mid-season when he began to tire. Johns began to question what value rugby league was in his life. Following a surfing holiday to the Philippines at the end of the season, Johns began a journey of self-discovery. After witnessing the poverty of the natives in that country, he realised how lucky he really was.

Putting 1996 behind him, he played a pivotal role when the Knights reached the 1997 Australian Rugby League grand final against Manly. There were grave concerns that Johns would be unable to play the game, as he had a received three broken ribs and a punctured lung only a fortnight ago. Local newspaper headlines even read "You Will Die". However, Johns defied the odds to play, and was able to win the game for the Knights by setting up a try for Darren Albert with six seconds remaining in the game. The partnership with his brother Matthew was broken in 2000 when salary cap pressures forced Matthew to leave the club and join British club Wigan.

Andrew Johns would soon become captain of the Knights, despite initial concerns after the retirement of Paul Harragon, and lead them to another grand final win, defeating the Parramatta Eels 30-24 in 2001. He was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for man of the match.

2002-2005

In 2002, Johns was awarded the captaincy of both New South Wales and Australia, going on to win the title of player of the series against Great Britain.

Johns has been plagued by injury in the past few seasons, often before or during the finals series. He injured his neck and damaged the ligaments in his left ankle when he rolled it. He broke his jaw in 2005, picked up a knee ACL injury which kept him out of most of the 2004 season, he had a serious back injury that threatened his career in 2003 and he broke his back during the 2002 finals.

Johns created a national debate in 2004 after receiving a massive offer from rugby union to switch codes. Numerous past legends of both codes expressed their opinions, and the only thing everybody agreed on was the fact Andrew would be a star for the Wallabies if he switched codes. After David Gallop, the CEO of the NRL, and Channel Nine contributed money and a promise of a commentary position after his career finished, Johns finally decided to stay in league, ending months of speculation and debate. He says his decision was massively affected by his son, who wanted him to stay in league.

In June 2005, Andrew Johns was picked to replace injured halfback Trent Barrett in the New South Wales State of Origin squad, returning from a series of injuries that sidelined him for a number of weeks. Johns went on to play the game, receiving man of the match honours. He also went on to play in the deciding third game of the series.

In August 2005, it was announced that Johns would be joining the English side Warrington Wolves on a short-term deal, playing in the final two games of the regular Super League and any playoff games the Wolves might get to. The Knights first made him sign a new contract, making him available to captain the team until the end of 2008.

2006

Johns scored 30 points against Canberra in Round 2 of the 2006 competition, and in doing so claimed the point scoring record for a single club, surpassing Mick Cronin's 1,971 points for Parramatta.

On the 5th of May, Johns played in his 21st and final Test match for the Kangaroos at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with Australia defeating New Zealand by 50 points to 12.

On the 30th June 2006, it was announced that Andrew Johns will play for the NSW cricket side in their upcoming Twenty20 series.

On Saturday the 8th of July against the Parramatta Eels, Andrew Johns converted a try scored by Riley Brown and became the highest point scorer in Australian first grade rugby league history, eclipsing Jason Taylor's previous record of 2,107 points.

Achievements

As of July 7th 2006

First grade for Newcastle

239 games (club record).
75 tries
893 goals (club record)
22 field goals (club record)
2108 points (club record and the most points ever scored by an individual)

Club records

Match records

Most tries in a match: 4 - July 29, 2001 (record shared with Darren Albert and Adam MacDougall)
Most goals in a match: 11 - March 19, 2006
Most points in a match: 34 - July 29, 2001

Season records

Most goals in a season: 110 - 2001
Most points in a season: 279 - 2001
Most field goals in a season: 5 - 1998

Club records

Most goals for club - 893
Most points for club - 2108
Most field goals for club - 22
Most First Grade games - 230

Representative honours

Test Matches - 21 (1995-4, 1996-2, 1997-1, 1998-3, 1999-1, 2000-1, 2001-4, 2002-1, 2003-1, 2005-2, 2006-1) - captained in 2 matches (2002-2003)
State Of Origin - 23 (1995-2, 1996-3, 1997-2, 1998-3, 1999-3, 2000-2, 2002-3, 2003-3, 2005-2) - captained in 6 matches (2002-2003)
Country Origin: 3 (1995, 1996, 2003) - captained in 1 match (2003)
World Cups : 1995 and 2000 (1995 World Cup Matches Counted as Test Matches. 2000 Matches did not)
Kangaroo tour : 2001 (All matches counted as Test Matches)

Awards

Dally M winner : 3 (1998, 1999, 2002)
Provan-Summons Medal winner : 5 (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Clive Churchill Medal : 1 (2001)
Player of the Series Australia v Great Britain 2001
Most Valuable Player in 1995 World Cup
Rugby League Week's Player of the Year : 3 (1998, 1999, 2002)

[[:Category:1974 births|Johns, Andrew] [[:Category:Australian rugby league players|Johns, Andrew] [[:Category:Living people|Johns, Andrew] [[:Category:People from Newcastle, New South Wales|Johns, Andrew]

History in the making for Johns

From Newcastle Knights Official website

Andrew Johns needs just 18 points to break the NRL's all time highest point scoring record, when the Knights host the Sharks this Saturday at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Three converted tries is all that stands between the star half back and Jason Taylor's long standing record of 2,107 career points, an accomplishment within Johns reach.

"We've all seen how lethal Joey is when he's playing at his best and he's capable of an 18 point haul, especially with a home crowd behind him," said Knights coach, Michael Hagan.

Johns will re-unite with former team mate and 1997 Grand Final try scoring hero, Darren Albert, who returns to his old home ground for the first time in a Cronulla jersey. He'll lead a Hunter Valley charge featuring Maitland junior, Greg Bird and former Knight, Brett Kimmorley, who is out to impress Origin selectors in his annual duel with Johns.

"Noddy always lifts when he's playing in Newcastle and with possible Origin selection up for grabs, I would expect him and Andrew to reignite their on-field rivalry," Hagan said.

After a week off to recover from the demands of the representative season, Knights Hooker, Danny Buderus rejoined the Newcastle squad today, training at Lambton Pool in preparation for the teams return home.

"It was important Danny had the week off to rest but now everyone is back on deck we need to improve to stay in the top eight and keep our finals campaign on track," said Hagan.

After being ruled out of last week's trip across the Tasman, fullback, David Seage has been cleared of a hamstring injury and will start at fullback while utility forward, Riley Brown will miss at least a week after suffering a shoulder injury at Ericsson Stadium.

Kirk Reynoldson has been named on the Interchange bench in an otherwise unchanged 17-man squad.

Johns closes in on Premiership record

Andrew Johns is poised to become the highest pointscorer in NSW/NRL Premiership history after steering Newcaslte to an important victory against Manly on Friday night.

Jason Taylor holds the record with 2,107 points and Johns netted himself 10 points in the Knights 26-12 victory to move him to 2,104 points and only a four pointer will be sufficient when Newcastle take on Parramatta next week at Parramatta Stadium, ironically Taylor is now the Eels coach.

Newcastle had lost four successive matches to be struggling to survive in the top eight with Johns even admitting that he wasn't in his best form. However, the Knights turned it all around to keep Manly at bay despite the Sea Eagles trying to make a second half comeback.

Brian Carney scored first when he received a great inside pass from Matthew Gidley with the hole opening up. Manly struck back when Anthony Watmough crashed over showing great strength pushing through three defenders.

The scores were locked up at 6-all in the 36th minute when Johns landed a penalty goal and Newcastle hit the lead just before half-time with Gidley again the creator of the try for Jarrod Mullen to score the try.

Johns took control in the second half to push Newcastle to a 24-6 inside the opening ten minutes of the second half. Johns produced a perfect long pass for George Carmont to score outwide and than a pin point bomb at the posts allowed young fullback Nathan Hinton to score the try.

Manly came back when they kicked on the first tackle where Brett Stewart had far too much speed and scored his 27th try and 27 appearances at Brookvale Oval.

The Sea Eagles kept on plugging away but desperate Knights defence and a late penalty goal from Johns secured victory.

Johns' 2,107 points comes from 75 tries, 891 goals and 22 drop goals in 239 first grade games.

Johns set to break Taylor's record

From Newcastle Knights Official website

Newcastle Knights Captain, Andrew Johns is set to break Jason Taylor's all time greatest point scoring record at Parramatta Stadium this Saturday 8 July, 2006.

Johns needs just four points to pass Taylor's 2,107 milestone and enter the Rugby League history books.

"Although I'm close to breaking the record, my thoughts are very much on the team's performance," said Johns.

"The thought of achieving this milestone is something I'm very proud of, but my mind is foremost on Newcastle playing well."

Meanwhile, New South Wales Captain Danny Buderus and Blues Back Rower, Steve Simpson will re-join the side after tomorrow night's Origin decider, bolstering the Newcastle ranks.

Coach Michael Hagan has named an 18 man squad to travel to Parramatta featuring Buderus and Simpson returning to the Newcastle starting line up, with Todd Lowrie moving back to the Interchange.

"The First Grade competition is tight at the moment with almost every player in the squad injury free," Hagan said.

"We're being forced to make tough decisions."

Luke Davico, Adam Woolnough and Riley Brown fill the remaining bench positions, Kirk Reynoldson will travel as 18th man.

After another solid performance against Manly last week, Nathan Hinton has retained the fullback spot and Milton Thaiday makes his long awaited comeback from injury in Premier League.

Joker Johns

From BBC Sport link

British rugby league fans may only get to see him play a handful of Super League games, but Warrington have still pulled off a monumental coup in luring a man deemed by most to be the best player of his generation.

But who is Andrew Johns? Outside of Australia, little is known of the talented half-back known as "Joey".

In short, he is league's answer to Jonny Wilkinson and the 13-man code's wonderboy.

But whereas England's World-Cup winning star can come across as a little dull, the 31-year-old Johns is anything but.

Affectionately labelled a "larrikin" (a person given to comical or outlandish behaviour) by his countrymen, joker Johns lists his favourite superhero as Wonder Woman and would choose Mini Me to play him in any film biopic.

Like Wilkinson, Johns has taken his fair share of physical punishment down the years. Yet despite a catalogue of injuries, he remains at the peak of his powers.

Having scored 1,915 points in 220 club appearances for Newcastle, he returned from his latest injury lay-off to inspire New South Wales to a comeback win over Queensland in the State of Origin Series.

Born in Cessnock, the son of a coal miner was snapped up by the Knights in 1989 but took five years before making his first-team bow.

When the breakthrough came, it came in some style, Johns scoring 23 points - a record for a player making his first Premiership start.

He followed that up with an even more impressive international debut, albeit against South Africa, scoring a record 30 points.

From there, his career took off. He played a key role at the 1995 World Cup, his creative talents earning Australia the crown and him the player of the tournament award.

He was at the heart of things again as the Kangaroos retained their title in 2000.

But his tally of international caps stands at just 18, chiefly a result of the injuries he has suffered.

The knocks are so numerous and, in some cases, so serious that the Bionic Man might have proved a more apt comic book idol.

He suffered a broken back in 2002, a career-threatening neck injury in 2003, a nasty knee injury in 2004 and a broken jaw earlier this year.

Despite the setbacks, Johns, the only two-time Golden Boot winner in the history of rugby league, keeps bouncing back.

It comes as no surprise to learn that he has been linked to more clubs than Wilkinson. In fact, he was even courted by a host of union clubs before opting to stay put.

The plaudits continue to come thick and fast for the Australian half-back.

Former Wigan and Great Britain star Shaun Edwards once said he was "simply the greatest player in rugby league history".

Plenty of others have said the same.

Now Warrington fans will hope he can live up to that billing and inspire the Wolves to Super League glory.

Knights skipper Andrew Johns ponders his role

From Sunday Herald Sun

ANDREW Johns denies any suggestion he is considering retirement at the end of the season, but admits he is contemplating ending his career at the Newcastle Knights without the burden of the captaincy. "I'm definitely playing again next season without a doubt. Beyond that, I'm still not sure," he said.

"I've signed for 2008, but I've told the Knights I will let the club know around the middle of next year and it will probably depend on how the body feels.

"As for the captaincy, it is something I am thinking about -- whether to keep doing it or maybe handing it off to 'Bedsy' (Danny Buderus) next year."

Johns believes:

MELBOURNE is the NRL's best team.

THE game is quicker and more physically demanding, but not as skilful as in the past.

THE Knights have to find at least 10 per cent improvement across the board to be a serious premiership threat.

Johns was full of praise for the Storm.

"How can you go past Melbourne, who are redefining the way teams play through their hunger and the precise way they go about their business by working together as one unit," he said.

"They are near impregnable in Melbourne . . . in the form they have been in, it is going to take an exceptional performance from a rival team to beat them in the big games ahead."

Johns defended the standard of NRL play against criticism that it was slipping, saying NRL boss David Gallop and his crew had little to worry about.

"Maybe the skill levels have dropped a little, but the game is faster and more physical than it has ever been," he said.

On the Knights captaincy, Johns said: "It is something I am thinking about tossing in. I still love the training and playing, but the other stuff -- the added pressure and the scrutiny which comes with being captain -- I could probably do without.

"I can get pretty frustrated and cranky at times . . . my teammates and the odd referee will attest to that."