Matty Johns backflips on coaching call amid secret approach from NRL club ahead of 2025 season

Newcastle great Matty Johns has revealed he has been sought out by an NRL club to gauge his interest in becoming their next head coach.

Newcastle Knights great Matty Johns has revealed he has been approached by a third party to gauge his interest in becoming an NRL head coach.

Johns has long reiterated that he never intends to move out of media – even as recently as October when he shut down rumours that he could drop his media commitments to take up the NSW Blues coaching role.

Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

But with his mega-money TV contract at Fox Sports up at the end of the 2025 season, Johns has shocked the NRL world by opening the door to the possibility of becoming a head coach in the future.

Johns confirmed to the Code Sports that he had been approached asking if he would consider a career switch.

And the 53-year-old said if the price is right he would be open to it.

However, Johns wouldn’t disclose which club had approached him out of respect to the current coach, but Buzz hinted it could be his beloved Newcastle Knights, with current head coach Adam O’Brien under serious pressure to turn the club into a premiership force.

 “It’s a long shot but, absolutely I’d like to do it (becoming a head coach),” Johns told The Daily Telegraph.

Matty Johns has hinted that he could consider becoming an NRL coach once his media contract ends. Image: Getty

“There’s nothing that could give you more satisfaction than seeing players and teams improve. I’ve done a lot of individual stuff over the years. I’ve worked with Cooper Cronk, Toby Sexton, Cameron Munster, Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker. I love it.

“But there’s the bulls*** stuff outside of coaching, dealing with sponsors, dealing with people like you and me in the media, all that stuff … and then all the hard work.”

Johns is widely regarded as one of the best coaching minds despite never actually being an NRL head coach.

However, he is a vital member of the Fox Sports team and insists he loves his media job.

Previously Johns has in no uncertain words shut down talks of ever becoming a coach.

Matty Johns (middle) has been employed by Fox Sports for several years. Picture: Jonathan Ng

In October 2024 he told the Backstage podcast alongside his son Cooper, that doesn’t ever intend to pursue a coaching career.

“There’s something that sits inside all of us, that if we don’t keep check of it, will send us down a path we shouldn’t go on and it’s called ego,” Johns said.

“When people come out and say to me ‘Matthew Johns for NSW coach’ I’ll be perfectly honest, it feels good because it strokes the ego. In me, there’s part of me that thinks I should take it and show them how good I am and win three or four in a row.

“(But) I’ve picked my path and my career has been in the media and it has been unbelievable. The best thing I have done in my life in the last 15 years is to make my life very low-stress.

“I have a lot of fun and it’s a low-stress life. I put currency on having a life like that, spending time with you people (family) than I do with having to feel special by coaching.”

Johns also admitted he was contacted by Wayne Bennett when he was previously linked to a coaching role, who gave him some sound advice.

Matthew (right) and Andrew (left) Johns are both Newcastle Knights club legends. Image: The Daily Telegraph

“The last time this happened and they talked about me doing the job, Wayne Bennett called me and said ‘If you are serious about doing this job, go and get yourself a football side straight away’,” Johns said in October.

“It didn’t matter if it was an under 19s side or whatever, you need to get back into coaching to get coach fit and start to make mistakes. He said if you go into the cut and thrust of all things State of Origin coaching if you aren’t fit, you could be in trouble.”

But his latest comments show he has changed his tune drastically, which could indicate he is finally ready to make the plunge.

Originally published as Matty Johns backflips on coaching call amid secret approach from NRL club ahead of 2025 season