Matty Johns fumes as Adam O’Brien’s fan attack goes too far

Matty Johns has torn Adam O’Brien to shreds in the latest chapter of a long-running feud between the coach and former club great.

Matty Johns has taken aim at Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien after he slammed the club’s own fan base on Thursday night.

The Knights went scoreless in the opening half as they trailed Manly 16-0 at the break and walked off McDonald Jones Stadium to a chorus of boos.

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In a tale of two halves, they emerged a different side after the break as they scored four tries to send the game to golden point before Kalyn Ponga crossed for the winner in the 83rd minute.

Despite the come from behind victory, O’Brien was critical of the halftime response from those in the stands.

The 47-year-old stated “the people that booed don’t know anything about rugby league”, a comment which did not sit well with Knights great Johns.

“Gee that’s a bit rough,” Johns said on The Late Show with Matty Johns, as you can see in the video above.

“I tell ya what mate, those Newcastle people from days when I played right through ... we used to get boo’d off sometimes and you cop it, because those fans turn up even when it’s pissing rain, hail or we’re sitting bottom of the ladder.

“They always turn up and they pay their money and they’ve supported that side for so long, I think they’re entitled to air their grievances.”

Matty Johns takes aim at Adam O'Brien’s comments. Credit: Fox League

It’s not the first time in O’Brien’s tenure that Johns has taken aim at the coach with Matthew coming to the defence of his brother Andrew last year.

The cold relationship between the coach and the iconic Knights brothers was on full display as a public war of words erupted.

Club legend and NRL Immortal Andrew suggested the club pick Will Pryce to make his debut, a suggestion that was ignored by O’Brien.

“I think Will’s still learning the game out here to be honest. I don’t know how many games Joey has watched of NSW Cup, but he (Pryce) hasn’t had many back-to-back good ones.”

Those comments again didn’t sit well with Matthew who slammed the Knights coach for ignoring a legend of the game.

Now a fresh chapter in the long-running feud has emerged after the Knights’ Thursday night win over the Sea Eagles.

Johns however wasn’t alone in his criticism of O’Brien with Fox League commentator Andrew Voss slamming the post-game remarks on his SEN radio show on Friday morning.

“I think all fans should be allowed to have their say,” Voss said.

“You pay your hard-earned money to watch your team, and if your team stinks up the joint on a regular basis, are you entitled to boo? O’Brien obviously walked into the presser feeling cocky because his team came back to win.

“To say to Knights fans that they ‘don’t know footy’. I think he’d regret those comments today.

“He overstepped the mark last night. That was their 8th scoreless half of the year.”

Adam O’Brien wasn’t happy with fans who boo’d the team off the ground at halftime. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The comments from O’Brien overshadowed what was a stunning victory for the Knights who entered the clash having lost three of their past four matches.

Despite the intense scrutiny being applied to the coach, his place as the leader of the club remains all but locked in thanks to a reported $2m payout looming overhead if the club is to sever ties with O’Brien who is contracted to the end of 2027, having been installed as the coach back in 2020.

On Friday morning, O’Brien addressed the media where he apologised for his comments about the fan base.

“Before we get started I just want to address some comments I made last night in the press conference,” O’Brien said.

“I apologise unreservedly to our members and fans that I offended and I can understand why they would be offended.

“I was under prepared for that question and I was unaware that there had been some booing on my way down at halftime and the first I had heard of it was with that question and I went straight into protection mode for our playing group.

“It’s not an excuse I’m here to own it. That’s not how I feel about our members, I understand we’re here because of those people and I think I’ve openly stated the opposite over a number of years that they are an educated fan base, they are an educated crowd.

“They sit through all types of weather and all types of scorelines with unwavering loyalty and I’m disappointed that I let them down with an emotional response to protect the playing group when I didn’t have all the facts.

“Hopefully over time I can, by owning this, earn back a bit of respect because it’s not how I feel about them.”

Originally published as Matty Johns fumes as Adam O’Brien’s fan attack goes too far