NRL 2021: Matty Johns opens up on son Jacks’ Newcastle Knights debut

Matty Johns reveals son Jack turned down a better offer at South Sydney to make his mark on a club where his family’s surname is synonymous.

Newcastle player Matthew Johns at home with wife Trish & son Jack, 04/98. Rugby League / John/fam

Had it been about the money or even an opportunity Jack Johns would not have returned to Newcastle. Instead Johns stuck to his word.

He had made his debut for the Rabbitohs last season but was told his future lay elsewhere. After accepting a one year development contract deal to head to the Knights, the Rabbitohs had a change of heart and offered Johns a new deal and a top 30 spot.

“The thing that I’m most proud of is the circumstances which led to him going back there,” said dad Matty, who presented Jack Johns with his Knights jersey ahead of his club debut.

“We were packing the car and he was about 30 minutes away from starting his new life in Newcastle and he gets a phone call from Souths telling him they’d like to keep him.

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Jack Johns will make his Newcastle Knights debut on Sunday against Parramatta. Picture: Paul Barkley/NRL Photos

“The offer was better and he hadn’t signed anything in Newcastle yet. We stood on the balcony and I told him ‘don’t make a decision on what you think you have to do, I just want you to make a decision on what’s best for you’. He was wrestling with it but he said ‘I’ve agreed so I am going up there’. Having the principle to do that made me the most proud.”

The Johns family get to add another milestone on Sunday. Matt and Jack will become the first father/son combination to line-up for the Knights.

“That shocks me,” Johns said. “And it feels bizarre to be honest. He was born about a week after the 1997 grand final and he has always been a Knights fan. He has memories of my last game at the club and walking around with me. I told him during the week that people will be bringing up that me and Joey (Andrew Johns) played in Newcastle. I told him to play dumb and say ‘did they, they don’t speak about the careers’.”

Jack Johns came through the Under 20’s for Newcastle before moving to the Rabbitohs. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

Jack has taken a long path back to the Knights. He spent two seasons at the club in 2017 and 2018 as part of their under-20s and reserve grade squads playing five-eighth spending two years at Souths. It was here the Rabbitohs told him he was “playing in the wrong spot” and switched him to the back-row.

Newcastle’s general manager of football and former teammate of Matty Johns, Danny Buderus said Jack developed quickly at the Rabbitohs and compared him to Blues lock Isaah Yeo.

“He is a totally different shape to Matthew and Andrew,” Buderus said. “First and foremost we wanted to have a look at him in the pre-season. He is highly committed to his training and wanting to pull on that Knights jersey.

“He has skill and can pass the footy. It’s not just about the name. It’s the ability of Jack. He is Jack Johns, he is his own man and wants to carve out a career for himself.”

Newcastle player Matthew Johns at home with wife Trish & son Jack, 04/98. Rugby League / John/fam

The fact Jack’s debut comes on old boys day at the club is further celebration.

But Matty’s Fox League commitments will stop him from being there.

“It’s their life, their careers,” Matty said. “I care but I’m not going to immerse myself in it. I’ve had my go. I’ve gone through it. I wouldn’t want to go through it again but it’s their crack and all I ever say to them is ‘how are you feeling’ and say ‘good luck’ and they say ‘thanks’.

“But I’m so proud of him to get a start.”