‘I might be silly enough to do it’: Matty Johns reveals secret approach from NRL club about head coaching role

Matty Johns’ squillion-dollar TV contract at Fox Sports expires at the end of the footy season. And it just happens to coincide with one NRL club reaching out to gauge his interest in becoming a head coach.

Matthew Johns has been approached about coaching an NRL team. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

Matty Johns’ squillion-dollar TV contract at Fox Sports expires at the end of the footy season.

And it just happens to coincide with one NRL club – who he refuses to name – reaching out through a third party to gauge his interest in becoming a head coach.

It was a rumour that reached your columnist last week, so we rang Matty on Sunday to put it to him.

Those who know him best insist he’s always had a coaching bug and a desire to test himself with a clipboard.

“Look, you can say this ‘Buzz’,” Johns said.

“I’ve had a bit of an approach from a third party acting for a club who asked if there was any interest and would I consider it.

“I put it back on them … ‘let me know what it’s worth and then I’ll come and have a coffee’.

“If they’re silly enough to pay me what I’d be asking for, I might be silly enough to do it.”

I asked Matty would he seriously like to coach or whether it was another of his gee-ups.

“It’s a long shot but, absolutely I’d like to do it,” he replied, “There’s nothing that could give you more satisfaction than seeing players and teams improve.

Matty Johns on the set of his show at Fox Sports headquarters. Picture: Britta Campion

“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 bullshit 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 respected across the game as one of the shrewdest football brains in rugby league.

On the rare occasions he talks pure footy – without the comedy – he can deliver the most insightful commentary and analysis.

Few have a sharper knowledge of the game.

Matty Johns has worked with some of the best playmakers in the game.

Yet you wonder how such a happy-go-lucky type would cope with the relentless 24/7 pressure, egos, backstabbing and scrutiny that coaches have to deal with. And how just last week we reported in this column that 30 coaches had been sacked in 10 years, including Wayne Bennett, Ivan Cleary and Tim Sheens, who have 15 premierships between them.

“I’ve been sacked a few times before and each time I got up the next morning and the sun was still shining and my local was still serving cold beer,” Johns said.

Matty loves his TV gig at Fox Sports and it would take a lot to prise him out of there.

He is the face of the network and has been on top of his game for more than 20 years.

“The people I work with – Fletch, Hindy and Gorden – are a lot of fun,” Johns said.

“The whole team is at Fox Sports. They’re all terrific people. I love going to work. I’m always happy there and I’d miss it for sure. Let’s just see where it goes.”

We presume he will soon have talks with his TV bosses Patrick Delany and Steve Crawley regarding his future.

A betting man would back him to stay … but who knows.

And now … for all those left wondering which club has reached out.

Your columnist would presume it’s the Newcastle Knights but he has no evidence to back that up.

No doubt we’ll lose another two or three head coaches this season.

When pressed, Matty wouldn’t even give us a hint out of respect for the current coach.

For once he had nothing to say.

Originally published as ‘I might be silly enough to do it’: Matty Johns reveals secret approach from NRL club about head coaching role