Cooper Johns with no regrets over move from fringe NRL player to media personality

Retiring from the NRL at the age of just 24, Cooper Johns has travelled the world and found his calling in the media space ever since, with the full support of father Matthew.

Cooper Johns has no regrets over his career move. Picture: Tim Hunter.

A jungle safari in South Africa and high rolling in Las Vegas, or battling the winter cold in Campbelltown and the foot of the mountains.

Cooper Johns is only just realising how much more there is to life than playing rugby league as a “third-string half”.

And he has the support of father Matthew Johns who says it’s important for all aspiring players to have a back-up plan.

“They call it NRL for a reason: Not, real, long. Then you’re out of it,” Matty said.

Since retiring from the NRL at just 24 years of age, Johns has locked down a radio deal, become a personality on Fox, travelled across the world, thrown punches with Tim Tszyu and been within an arm’s length of a lion in a jungle.

“It’s been a whole new world. It’s been a sick experience and I would never have these chances unless I left the game when I did,” Cooper said.

Johns made the call after four trying years in the top grade, where he managed just 19 games across stints at Melbourne and Manly since his debut in 2020.

Cooper Johns has made a successful transition from rugby league to the media world. Picture: Tim Hunter.

But while he struggled to follow in the footsteps of his dad – and uncle, Andrew – on the rugby league field, Cooper has enjoyed some early success in following their off-field careers.

And so far it’s a path that’s taken him beyond the traditional NRL heartlands.

“It’s been really good and enjoyable, it’s all really fun with all the different opportunities I have gotten with places I’m at and employed with,” he said.

“Rugby league is very Australian dominant and it can take you all around Australia.

“But since joining the media world, I have now realised how big it is. It has taken me to Johannesburg, Vegas, LA in only the couple of months.

“It gives you a bit of perspective on how big the world is outside Australia and how big other markets are.”

Cooper has always acknowledged the platform his burgeoning rugby league career had given him, a profile that allowed him to sit behind a microphone.

Current players like Roosters star Brandon Smith and Sea Eagles veteran Aaron Woods have already found similar success through their podcasts.

It’s a road Cooper is encouraging other fringe players to explore, particularly those who accept that they won’t reach that elite level of playing talent.

Cooper Johns has himself a pretty stacked resume at the age of 24. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“Rugby league gives you that base profile for people to see you in the limelight,” he said.

“If the game continues to grow in the next couple of years I can’t see why players who aren’t getting regular first grade games wouldn’t want to come over to the media.

“I was a third-string half, I loved doing media and entertaining people, I thought I could forge a better career in the media afterwards.

“I knew what I was good at and I knew people liked hearing me talk.

“Why leave at 34, when I can do it at 24.”

Cooper has come from one of the most famous families in rugby league with Matthew and Andrew – a rugby league Immortal – two of the most recognisable faces of their generation.

But Cooper was never motivated by their achievements on the field – he was more attracted to their success off it.

“I saw highlights of them play but I never saw them as rugby league players, I saw them as personalities,” Cooper said.

His dad played 198 games across a 10-year career, nine of which came at Newcastle with Andrew, before spending one season with Cronulla.

He also played nine Tests for Australia and four State of Origin games for NSW.

But he was in full support of his son’s move away from the game.

Cooper has the full support of father Matty Johns over his career transition. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“Sometimes you have to ask yourself, ‘Am I going to be a player that is one of the top players? Am I going to be a $400,000-$500,000 player?’” Matty said.

“If the answer is no and I’m always going to be a player on the fringe or on base pay, you have to ask the question, ‘Am I doing the right thing?’”

Matty has nothing but praise for his son.

“I was never the kid in the classroom saying I was going to be a star footballer, I don’t need this,” Matty said.

“The attitude I had coming into my footy career has allowed me to transition into the media, and it’s really important for young people who are sitting at school to question their ambitions.

“Don’t just think to yourself, ‘I’m going to be an NRL player’, because it’s not guaranteed.”

Even though Matty would have loved to have seen Cooper have a long career in first grade, he is more proud of his transition to another industry.

“For him (Cooper) it’s taken a lot of guts, and a lot of intelligence. And for that I’m very proud and happy for him,” he said.