Jack Johns continues family legacy at Newcastle Knights with senior debut

Jack Johns was born into a Knights jersey and now 23 years later he will make his senior debut, although his Dad Matty won’t be in the crowd. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Matty, Trish and Jack Johns in 1998, and Jack in 2021.

Jack Johns was in a Knights jersey almost as soon as he was in nappies.

Coming into the world just two weeks after Newcastle’s epic 1997 ARL grand final win against Manly, he had a jersey delivered to his door almost immediately.

“I remember Canterbury clothing were our sponsors,” his father, Knights great Matthew Johns said. 

“They sent a jersey with the ‘6 – Johns’ on the back to him. He had it when he was a baby.”

On Saturday night, Jack Johns will make his senior Knights debut.

This time, though, he’ll be wearing a different number on his back — 13 — as he lines up at lock in a trial match against local premiers the Cessnock Goannas.

Mobbsy, Buzz and Mick return with The Daily Telegraph NRL Podcast on February 25. Before then we’ve got some bonus episodes lined up from the Fox League event at Bankwest. Here Mobbsy catches up with our very own Matty Johns and Yvonne Sampson about their thoughts on the year ahead...

Matthew Johns, wife Trish and son Jack in his No.6 Knights jersey in 1998.

That match-up itself has more than a touch of symmetry for his father.

“It’s quite unbelievable that he is playing my hometown, my junior club,” Johns said of Cessnock.

“(Playing for) my club the Newcastle Knights, against (Cessnock) in his first first grade game.

“We are proud.”

Despite the significance of having a Johns run out in a senior game in Knights colours for the first time since Andrew Johns 14 years ago, Matty won’t be in Cessnock come kick-off.

“Mum and dad (Gail and Gary) are going to go to the game – his Nan and Pop – to watch,” Johns told The Daily Telegraph NRL Podcast, which drops on Saturday.

“I describe it as a discipline to allow your children to step in the same holes you’ve stepped in.

“I’m not going to go to his game. I try to avoid going to his game. I wasn’t going to go to his (NRL) debut (for South Sydney) at Canberra. And he was like ‘Dad I really want you to go.’

“I tried to hide myself away in the box but the cameras kept finding me.”

Jack Johns. Picture: Paul Barkley/NRL Photos

Matty Johns. Picture: Jonathan Ng

While Johns is still very much in the spotlight, he will headline Fox League’s NRL coverage again in 2021, he is wary of taking the attention from both his sons, maintaining that “it’s their careers”.

“It’s the same with the younger bloke too, Cooper. I’ve had a go.”

He also tries to balance that out with his concerns as a parent.

““When they said they wanted to play professional rugby league, you sort of (groan), because you know how ruthless it can be,” Johns said.

“It’s a really tough game, more so away from the game with the criticism than it is physically. But they’re good, they are resilient.

“It’s really funny as a parent, my old man said ‘gee, going through it again’. Because he was a footballer, Joey and I went through it and with our careers there are ups and there are downs. Particularly with Joey, there were some really good times and there were some really tough times.

“When Andrew retired, Dad said ‘I am glad it’s over’. He said that. He goes, ‘I was just over going to the football, over worrying about how he was going to play, over the criticism’. It takes a toll on parents too.” 

Jack Johns in the No.6 jersey for Newcastle’s under-20s team. Picture: Peter Lorimer

After signing with Newcastle and playing under-20s with the Knights, Jack Johns joined the Rabbitohs.

“The last two years at South Sydney have been incredible for him,” Johns said.

“Because he has gone there under Wayne Bennett and alongside blokes like Sam Burgess, Cody Walker, Damien Cook. In a high-pressure environment, high standard and it’s just made the world of difference to him.

“Growing up, he was always a Knights fan. He was born in Newcastle, the first three or four years of his life he spent in Newcastle.

“He was always a Knights fan, even during the really tough times. Where his brother has always been a Storm fan. Now he is playing at the Storm. 

“But it is fair to say the brother has had a lot more success in the last 15 years than the older bloke.” 

Newcastle Knights v Cessnock Goannas

Saturday, 6pm at Cessnock Sports Ground

Knights: 1. Mackenzie Baker, 2. Jacob Kiraz, 3. Brayden Musgrove, 4. Dylan Lucas, 5. Dom Young, 6. Hayden Loughrey, 7. Kobe Davis, 8. Pasami Saulo, 9. Mitch Black, 10. Garrett Smith, 11. Jaron Purcell, 12. Brodie Jones, 13. Jack Johns. Interchange: 14. Luke Huth, 15. Christian Ma’anaima, 16. Mat Croker, 17. John Tolofea. Extended Squad: 18. Zac Hosking, 19. Dan Ticehurst, 20. Blake Campbell, 21. Harvey Neville, 22. Matt Soper-Lawler, 23. Ben Talty, 24. Liam Wilkinson, 25. Harry Croker, 26. Harry van Dartel, 27. Sione Tuitupou-Kutu, 28. Henry Penn, 29. Jesse Cronin, 30. Tyler Coburn, 31. Blake Lenehan

Originally published as Jack Johns continues family legacy at Newcastle Knights with senior debut