‘Drives me mad’: Andrew Johns fumes over Reed Mahoney ‘pest’ act

Andrew Johns was fuming just before halftime over a moment that wouldn’t have had a place in the past — and erupted just before full-time.

Andrew Johns has blasted the "pest" act that boiled over in the final minute. Photo: Fox Sports and Getty Images

Knights forward Jacob Saifiti has been handed a $3000 fine for his brain snap in his side’s dismal loss to the Bulldogs on Friday night.

He was charged with a Grade 1 striking offence, and can accept the monetary punishment with a guilty plea or risk a two-week suspension by challenging the NRL Judiciary’s call.

An utter brain snap with a minute left from Saifiti said it all as his side were annihilated 32-2 in Newcastle.

The Knights fans turned out in force but were wiped off the field, ending a four-game winning streak in a spectacular capitulation.

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It was a frustrating night from the outset for the Knights, who were denied a try through Greg Marzhew in the 12th minute after a brilliant try-saver from Bulldogs second-rower Jacob Preston dragging the winger’s feet into touch before he grounded it.

From that moment on, it was all Bulldogs.

Two first half tries through Josh Addo-Carr gave the Bulldogs a 10-2 lead after 27 minutes.

Despite the lead, it didn’t stop the Bulldogs from putting the boot into the Knights however they could.

With five minutes left in the first half, the Bulldogs spoiled a chance to take a bigger lead to the break after a second tackle knock on during a set started inside the Knights 10m.

In a sight which has become pretty standard in the modern game, the breakdown descended into pushing and shoving that NRL fans are resigned to seeing on a regular basis.

It appeared as though Bulldogs’ acting captain Reed Mahoney started the push and shove, with referee Grant Atkins penalising Canterbury.

“Reed Mahoney’s in there of course,” Cooper Cronk said on Fox League.

Atkins said: “Reed, that penalty’s against you.”

Cronk added: “I think that’s a little but reputational as well because I don’t know that he contributed that much to that little melee, if that’s what you want to call it.”

Mahoney right in the middle. Photo: Fox Sports

On Nine, Brad Fittler said: “Is that Pestasaurus in there?”

“Yep, Reed Mahoney, brought to you by Mortein again,” Andrew Johns joked.

“Once again, it’s the no punching, you get this carry on. Do you think that would happen back in the old days, when you could cop one off Les Davidson or Blocker? No.”

Mat Thompson added: “Is that the new Dally M category — Pest of the Year?”

But Johns wasn’t in a laughing mood.

“I don’t even know why we’re joking about it — it drives me mad,” he said. “It absolutely drives me mental.”

While the frustration didn’t boil over there, it threatened to throughout the match.

As the Bulldogs piled on the points, it just got more and more frustrating for the Knights, finally boiling over in the 79th minute.

After Mahoney was held up over the line, Saifiti let the emotion get the best of him, seemingly headbutting Mahoney right in front of referee Atkins.

There was no surprise when Saifiti was sin binned, but Johns said the issue was the ability to niggle without fear of reprisals.

“Once again, you can’t throw a punch, but they get that frustrated that they lead with the head, honestly,” Johns said.

What was Saifiti thinking?!? Photo: Fox Sports

On Fox League, Dan Ginnane screamed: “Jacob, you cannot do that. Oh my goodness, one of the most unnecessary actions of the year.

“Reed Mahoney has gotten into the minds of these Newcastle Knights and it is going to cost Jacob Saifiti a sin bin here.”

Cronk added: “He’s played them all night Reed Mahoney.”

On ABC Sport, Andrew Moore said: “Jacob Saifiti might have been the biggest boof-headed play I’ve ever seen in my life. Referee Grant Atkins was right up in his grill and Saifiti went boof.”

Beyond the Goal Post’s Ben Quagliata wrote: “That is absolutely embarrassing.”

Another fan called it “the dumbest act of the year”.

Post-game, fellow former pest Michael Ennis said it was in the battle that Mahoney could get the best out of himself.

“Some people can’t relate to it, and I can, sometimes when you’re in that battle, it brings the best out of you,” Ennis said.

“And Reed’s the type of player that likes to be up in the face of his opposition players, he likes to be in the heat and the thick of things, and it brings out the best of him when the competitive juices are flowing.”

James Graham added that it was “part of our game”.

While he said Saifiti’s actions were “illegal” and he’ll have to face any charges, but it “wasn’t the crime of the century”.

In recent weeks, Mahoney has been warned by both Johns and Billy Slater about being the aggressor, particularly after making headlines in a tunnel scuffle with the Wests Tigers’ Jack Hetherington.

At that time, Johns also said the issue was Mahoney was entering the fray without fear of repercussions.

“Reed Mahoney’s coming in third man and it’s a couple of times he has done it this year, to agitate and carry on, because there’s no fear of being punched in the head,” he said on The Sunday Footy Show at the time.

“There’s no natural justice on the field, there’s no consequences, and for little blokes to run up to big blokes and carry on and get in their face, it drives me mad.”

It turns out it it’s still getting on Johns’ nerves.

Huge result for the Bulldogs. Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

But it’s another big win for the Bulldogs, who jump ahead of the Knights on the NRL ladder after the brilliant performance as the club look to make the finals for the first time since 2016.

And they’re going the right way about it — the Bulldogs have the second best defence in the NRL behind only the Panthers so far in 2024.

It’s a long way from last year, where the side had the worst defence in the competition, falling just six points short of cracking the top 10 worst defensive years in first-grade history.

Originally published as ‘Drives me mad’: Andrew Johns fumes over Reed Mahoney ‘pest’ act