What’s The Buzz: Joey Johns rubbishes coaching call, action on NRL jersey ripoffs
Erin Molan's departure from Channel Nine will lead to a surprise move from Immortal Andrew Johns, who has also shut down the possibility of becoming an NRL head coach.
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Andrew Johns will make a comeback on Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show this season.
His return coincides with the departure of Erin Molan, who has been replaced by Danika Mason as host.
Joey quit the show two years ago, telling producers he couldn’t work with Erin. The Sunday Footy Show will also feature Origin coaches Brad Fittler and Billy Slater.
Johns, meanwhile, has slammed the door shut on the possibility of NRL coaching after his brother Matty raised the issue of the eighth immortal becoming a head coach at the Fox League launch.
“Bloody Matty, what’s he talking about,” Johns said, “Seriously there’s no chance of me becoming an NRL coach. Absolutely no chance.”
In media interviews on Tuesday, Matty said his brother should be a head coach: “With the right people around him he would also handle the pressure as good as anyone.”
Johns doesn’t want a bar of it.
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“I dealt with pressure as a player but I was out there and could control it,” he said.
“As a coach there’s the entire club. I just love what I’m doing with the specialised stuff at the Knights with the halves and the younger players.”
There’s also the fact he is already highly paid as a TV commentator without the stress.
“I love what I do at Channel 9 – it’s a dream job,” he said. “As long as you prepare, there’s no pressure. If you’re a head NRL coach, it’s the exact opposite and I don’t need that.
“You want to sit down for dinner and have your head in a family conversation without worrying about your footy team.
“You want to sleep at night. I want to have time to go for a surf.
“I really admire all NRL coaches for the time they put in and the pressure they absorb. But it’s not for me. Matty can go and dream up some other ideas.”
PVL WANTS ACTION ON JERSEY RIPOFFS
Peter V’landys wants the NRL to launch an inquiry into the price of footy jerseys, determined to make merchandise more affordable to fans.
It follows an item in this column last Sunday revealing the Bulldogs were charging $150 for a training jersey.
“You want every kid who follows rugby league to be wearing their club colours,” V’landys said. “I was concerned when I read about it and contacted Andrew (Abdo) and suggested we need to find out why they are so expensive.”
Sources have revealed the costs breakdown from the manufacturers in Asia to when they arrive at sports stores in Australia.
The bigger retailers like Rebel and Peter Wynn Score can make up to $50 on a new jersey.
However they are often sold below cost towards the end of the season to clear stock.
The NRL and the clubs get almost $20 from each jersey in a licencing fee.
“I’m not sure it’s an area where we need to be making revenue,” V’landys said.
“In fact, I think we’d generate a lot more revenue if they were cheaper.
“Charging $160 is counter-productive and it’s definitely a problem we need to look at.
“The game is in its best financial position ever so we’ve got to look at all the costs … even the prices at the turnstiles, merchandise and everything else.
“It has to be affordable for the fans. They’re the lifeblood of the game.”
SAINT
More opportunities for women in rugby league with Kasey Badger and Belinda Sharpe to referee in NRL trials this weekend. These are not token appointments but recognition of their outstanding work in recent years as NRL match officials.
SINNER
The pay struggle for women in sport is there for to see in soccer’s W-League. Adelaide United striker Fiona Worts netted five goals in an 8-2 win over Brisbane last Sunday. Fiona was back in Adelaide the next morning doing a shift at a Maccas drive-through. Something must be done to ensure better pathways and pay for future Matildas, just a year out from Australia hosting the women’s World Cup.
SHOOSH
Which ex-newspaper columnist is now employed by Cricket Australia in a media role? Nothing unusual but for the fact he refuses to deal with some of Sydney’s most senior sports journos, many of whom he has blocked on social media.
SHOOSH
The animosity between the Roosters and Rabbitohs has blown up again before a football has been kicked. Our item last week about Artie Beetson’s son Mark working as an assistant coach to John Sutton with Souths’ SG Ball side has infuriated Roosters officials. The late Artie has two grandsons playing Harold Matthews and SG Ball at Souths.
SHOOSH
Which rugby league CEO faces a shaky future and needs upcoming board election results to go his way to retain his highly paid job.
SPOTTED
Rugby league took ex-NRL boss Todd Greenberg to England and New Zealand. Now Australia’s Cricket Association CEO is off to Pakistan for our first tour there in 24 years. Greenberg is going to ensure agreed safety measures for the players are in place at hotels, practice venues and at the grounds.
SPOTTED
There is a nice Phil Gould touch to the Cronulla Sharks this season. Gus’ son Jack works for the club under Glenn Brailey in NRL junior development and pathways. Like his old man, Jack knows his footy. He played Harold Matthews and SG Ball level for Cronulla a few years back.
SPOTTED
A ceelebration at Wynnum Golf Club in Brisbane on Saturday for the 50th birthday of Maroons legend Craig ‘Knuckles’ Greenhill. Among those in attendance were Mat Rogers, Martin Lang, Paul Green, Brett Kimmorley, Andrew Gee and David Peachey.
MENINGA LISTS POTENTIAL KANGAROOS CAPTAINS
Four players are vying for the most prestigious honour in rugby league this season.
Even more prestigious than the Dally M or Clive Churchill Medals.
Daly Cherry-Evans, James Tedesco, Nathan Cleary and Cameron Murray are all in the running to be named Australia’s next Test captain for the World Cup in England.
There is no bigger honour than being named captain of the Kangaroos for a tour to England.
In the last 75 Test matches, there have been only three Australia captains – Darren Lockyer (38 times), Cameron Smith (33) and Boyd Cordner (4) before he was forced into retirement.
Coach Mal Meninga admits it is going to be a difficult decision.
“We have four standouts,” Meninga said. “It’s going to be a really tough decision.
“It’s got to be the right choice, not just for now, but into the future. You don’t want to be chopping and changing your captains.”
These comments bring Murray and Cleary well into the equation because they are going to be around for longer than DCE and Tedesco.
Yet the Rabbitohs lock and Panthers halfback won’t have captained in State of Origin.
“I’ve spoken regularly about the prestige of wearing the green and gold jersey,” Meninga said.
“This isn’t just about picking a great players but someone who is admired and respected right across the game. We’re fortunate to have four great candidates.
“DCE and Teddy are captains in State of Origin. Nathan and Cam Murray captained their teams in last year’s grand final.
“Let’s wait and see … a lot of things can happen over 12 months.”
* * * * *
Josh Dugan claimed he retired last year because he couldn’t afford to pay his Covid fines.
This is very unusual for a player on $850,000 a season.
We can now report the former Sharks, Blues and Kangaroos star is all cashed up.
Dugan recently sold his Gymea Bay home for $2.1 million, which was well above the real estate guide of $1.8 million.
Dugan was recently linked to a comeback with Mittagong in country football, although the Group 6 club has denied any interest in the 31-year-old, who played 215 NRL games over 14 seasons.
* * * * *
Ash Barty winning the Australian Open plus reality show Married At First Sight should have given Channel 9 a huge kick-start to the year in the official TV ratings.
This is not the case. Channel 7 has won the opening two weeks.
It’s all thanks to the Winter Olympics which have pulled in a strong audience and ensured Channel 7 is the No.1 network each and every day in regionals and capital cities.
In live streaming they are also up 253% on 2021, which is 56.3% commercial audience share.
* * * * *
The NRLW competition will be used to trial new microchip ball technology which will potentially provide the game with a new range of statistical data, including a more accurate detection of forward passes. The chip transmits data to computer software which can be used by the bunker to check passes. It will add to the TV coverage as well. The NRLW season starts next weekend.
* * * * *
There has been a huge go for the Sydney Roosters on the TAB in the countdown to the premiership kick-off. The Roosters were $8 in opening markets last year but are now into $6.50. One punter had $8,000 on the Chooks at $7 last week for a collect of $56,000 if they can go all the way.
* * * * *
JohnRibot famously told us 25 years ago that Super League would put rugby league on the map in China. Well, it’s just about happened. The NRL will be beamed onto screens across South East Asia this season with the Premier Sports Network to broadcast three live games per week and one NRLW game.
Games will be aired in nations such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Macau and the Maldives. The NRL is now available in over 70 countries across the globe.
* * * * *
Canterbury’s major sponsors, the Laundy family, were at Leichhardt Oval on Friday night cheering wildly for the Wests Tigers against Manly. We know Arthur Laundy is a lifelong Tigers fan but his son, former politician Craig Laundy, is an absolute Bulldogs tragic. It turns out the family was there to watch the Wests Tigers young debutant Harry O’Kane, who is the partner of Craig’s daughter Analise.
* * * *
Queensland Supreme Court judge Martin Burns organised a reunion of old NRL executives on Thursday night. We spotted old CEO David Gallop, his deputy Graham Annesley, salary cap auditor Ian Schubert and head of communications John Brady in the restaurant at the Paddington Hotel. Justice Burns was a key player in ending the Super League War and setting up the NRL constitution.
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