Newcastle supporters launch bid to raise $50,000 for Andrew Johns statue
Plans to install a statue of Johnathan Thurston outside the new Townsville stadium have raised the hackles of passionate Newcastle Knights supporters.
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Impassioned Newcastle fans are pushing to raise $50,000 for an Andrew Johns statue this weekend, convinced the eighth Immortal should be bronzed before Johnathan Thurston.
In what shapes as a showdown of Origin proportions, hardcore Knights supporters have begun lobbying not only for a Johns bust outside McDonald Jones Stadium, but urged it be completed before Queensland immortalises its own Townsville halfback hero in 2020.
In a bid to garner support from the Hunter community, the statue group will descend on Newcastle’s home ground this Saturday afternoon as up to 10,000 fans – and some 90 Old Boys – congregate for the annual Legends of League tournament.
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Apart from handing out flyers to promote the Joey statue push, organisers will also be chasing signatures – and raising awareness for a GoFundMe campaign – which will then be presented to both the NSW Government and Venues NSW.
Speaking with The Saturday Telegraph, organiser Karlo Tychsen said he had been spurred into action after learning of the pledge to have North Queenslander Thurston bronzed outside a new Townsville stadium in 2020.
“To think Johnathan Thurston would have a statue before Joey – I was stunned,” Tychsen said.
“Which is no disrespect to JT, who was a wonderful player.
“But Andrew Johns isn’t just considered the best player in Newcastle, or even the best player ever of his generation … we’re talking about a footballer widely considered the greatest of all time.
“So while the Newcastle club has already named the eastern grandstand in his honour, we just don’t think that is enough.
“An Immortal needs to be immortalised. And what better way to do that than in bronze?”
Asked about the bold proposal of also raising $50,000, Tychsen continued: “Ultimately, we think the project will cost about double that, but the idea is for Knights fans to be able to take some ownership of the statue, too.
“Again, Joey is considered the greatest rugby league player ever.
“And we think Newcastle, as a city, should embrace that. We should be extremely proud that the greatest player ever is one of ours.”
Given the statue push is still in its early stages, Tychsen said the group was open to suggestions when it came to exactly what pose of Johns should be immortalised.
He added they were also hoping to eventually meet up with Knights CEO Phil Gardner, convinced the club would also throw its heavyweight support behind the push.
Already, the Queenslanders have statues of both Wally Lewis and Allan Langer outside Suncorp Stadium.
Elsewhere around the country, fellow rugby league greats like Dally Messenger, Reg Gasnier, Mal Meninga, Laurie Daley and Ray Price have also been bronzed.
In 2020, a Thurston monument is also set to be unveiled in Townsville as part of a new stadium build.
Now in its third year, the Legends of League tournament sees six teams competing over as many hours on Saturday afternoon in a knockout-style competition, which is played under an NRL Nines format.
Newcastle boast a strong line-up, with Johns acting as assistant coach for a side that includes a host of 2001 premiership heroes including Danny Buderus, Billy Peden, Robbie O’Davis, Matt Parsons and Sean Rudder.