Newcastle Knights throw heavyweight support behind Andrew Johns in statue race with Johnathan Thurston
Newcastle Knight fans have been pushing hard to have Andrew Johns immortalized in bronze and now they have a key backer.
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So who should be bronzed first – Andrew Johns or Johnathan Thurston?
In a showdown worthy of Origin billing, rugby league’s great statue race has officially kicked into full swing this week with the Newcastle Knights joining calls to have a bust of their champion No.7 erected in 2020.
For almost three months now, hardcore Knights fans have been pushing a ‘Bronze for Johns’ campaign that demands the eighth Immortal get a statue before fellow Australian Test great Thurston.
Already, the Bananabenders have promised to immortalise their retired North Queensland premiership hero outside the new Townsville sports stadium, which is set for completion next year.
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But the Knights group believes Johns should be given the honour first, continuing a debate over the playmakers that was really ignited way back in 2015 – when Fox Sports personality Matthew Johns broke family ranks to declare JT better than his little brother.
And now, the Knights have weighed in.
Regardless of which legend is bronzed first, Newcastle CEO Phil Gardner said his franchise was urging Venues NSW – which owns and operate their home ground, McDonald Jones Stadium, to “make the statue a reality”.
The Knights boss now joins a host of Kangaroo greats in the push for a Joey statue, including the likes of Danny Buderus, Nathan Hindmarsh, Willie Mason, Wendell Sailor and Kurt Gidley.
Quizzed on the Bronze for Johns campaign, Gardner said: “It’s a wonderful idea and has our full support as a club.
“There’s no denying a statue of Andrew would be a terrific addition to McDonald Jones stadium.
“Many of our supporters and players have been vocal in backing the initiative, so it’s over to Venues NSW now as the stadium is on their land.
“The decision rests with them to make it a reality.”
Buderus recently suggested former team-mate should “absolutely” get a statue.
“I’ve seen the push coming from fans and think it’s great,” the NSW Origin assistant coach said. “The whole thing really seems to have some momentum behind it and I don’t think fans will rest until he has one”.
Elsewhere, Big Willie said it was rugby league’s “absolute shame” that Johns hadn’t already been immortalised, while both Gidley and Hindmarsh have been involved in videos supporting the cause.
For years, rugby league fans across NSW and Queensland have argued, often passionately, over who was the better NRL playmaker – Joey or JT.
Back in 2015, Matthew Johns famously put family loyalties aside to declare the Cowboys champion had overtaken his little brother as rugby league's greatest ever halfback.
“In my opinion, Thurston is better than ‘Joey’,” Matthew said.
“JT will be an Immortal of the game. He is just the complete player.
“Some people will criticise me for saying JT is a better player than Joey. Some of Joey’s fans will say that’s bulls***, that’s disrespectful.
“Well, I'm sorry, Joey slept on the bottom bunk below me at home, so I think I'm qualified to say it.”