NRL All Star game under threat over scheduling, Matty Johns’ grand final jersey story

The NRL All Stars match scheduled for February is in doubt with Indigenous players furious over a late change, Matty Johns finally gets one up on Joey and more.

Matty Johns in Andrew Johns' grand final jersey

The NRL All Stars match in New Zealand in February has caused a major backlash from Indigenous players.

It is the first time the match has been played outside Australia and areas where the Indigenous players are so keen to promote their culture.

The match is on Saturday, February 11 at Rotorua International Stadium.

The Indigenous stars were originally told they could stay in Australia until the Thursday before the game to spend time in schools and remote areas to share their message. Now the NRL has booked their flights to New Zealand on the Monday.

They will have no time to do what they are most passionate about and some players are even talking about a boycott.

Nicho Hynes of the Indigenous All Stars and Kenny Bromwich of the Maori All Stars exchange greeting before the All Stars match earlier this year. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

HOW MATTY JOHNS ENDED UP WITH JOEY’S GRAND FINAL JERSEY

Matty Johns is the proud owner of one of rugby league’s most valuable pieces of memorabilia — by accident.

After the Newcastle Knights won the unforgettable 1997 grand final against Manly with the Darren Albert try, the club had the jerseys framed and presented to the players at a celebration dinner a week later.

Matty has proudly kept the jersey on his wall at home for more than 25 years.

It still had the blood stains from the game.

Matty’s wife Trish recently noticed the jersey was growing mould. So they pulled the frame apart to clean the jumper.

Turns out Matty had been presented with the wrong one.

The number on the back was 7 — the jersey his brother Andrew had on when he made the blindside surge in the dying moments to put Albert over for the matchwinning try.

“We couldn’t believe it when we opened the frame up,” Matty said.

Andrew Johns and Matty Johns do a lap of honour after Newcastle’s 1997 grand final triumph.

“I’ve had Joey’s jersey for all these years.

“Someone’s just f***ed up and given me his.

“He’s probably got mine.

“Even the blood’s still there. I think it was from when Tooves (Geoff Toovey) got hit in the head.

“It’s worth more than mine so I might put it on eBay and see what I can get for it. Seriously, it’s one of the most famous jerseys in grand final history.

“He played with the punctured lung — all that stuff.

“He’s since become the eighth Immortal. It would have to be worth a few bob.”

Matty hasn’t even told Joey of his discovery.

“We only took it out last week,” he said.

Matty Johns putting his brother's famous 1997 grand final jersey to good use.

“Let him read about it.

“Maybe I’ll reframe it and just tell the boys it’s actually uncle Joey’s jersey.”

We asked Matty to send us a photo of him posing with the jumper.

He couldn’t help himself.

Back came a picture of him painting his house in it.

Anything to stir up Joey.

All the latest NRL chatter and more in Australia’s hottest sport gossip column.

SAINT

Marnus Labuschagne is supporting the fantastic charity Compassion Australia over summer to get much-needed food and care to vulnerable children around the world. He will donate 50 food packs for every half century he scores in the Tests against the West Indies and South Africa. He sure made a great start in Perth.

SINNER

I have never met a more honourable man in rugby league than Laurie Daley. His integrity is unquestioned yet the NRL has banned him from working as a coaching consultant at Manly because he hosts the Big Sports Breakfast on Sky Sports Radio — which is owned by the TAB. The NRL Code of Conduct prohibits all players, club officials, match officials and administrators from being sponsored, employed, contracted, engaged or otherwise commercially involved in any way with a gambling operator. Yet Melbourne chairman Matt Tripp — a shareholder in a corporate bookmaking firm — is fine to be boss of the Storm. Work that one out.

Laurie Daley has been blocked from a coaching consultant role at Manly.

SHOOSH

The NRL invited three club chairmen — Gold Coast’s Dennis Watt, St George-Illawarra’s Andrew Lancaster and Cronulla’s Steve Mace — to the latest round of funding and CBA talks with the RLPA on Friday. Lancaster’s presence was a shock and perhaps a potential conflict of interest. He is boss of WIN TV and a board member of Channel 9, who hold the game’s broadcasting rights. Other chairmen were invited but declined as they didn’t want to be seen supporting the NRL against their players.

SHOOSH

Which rugby league radio personalities are furious at having their pay packets — and time-on-air — slashed for the 2023 season to make way for new talent.

SPOTTED

There’s no better comeback story in rugby league than Cameron Munster. A year ago we did the big interview in which he revealed his massive gambling and alcohol issues. Munster has his life back on track and is engaged to long-time partner Bianca McMahon. He popped the question in Italy while on holiday after the World Cup with their son Jaxon.

Kangaroos star Cameron Munster, partner Bianca McMahone and son Jaxon.

SPOTTED

Munster’s old Melbourne Storm teammate and Kangaroos winger Josh Addo-Carr also got engaged in Italy, to his partner Lakaree Smith last week.

SPOTTED

The NSWRL has won a major award as the Organisation of the Year at the annual Rebel NSW Champions of Sports dinner. This is unusual considering the Blues lost the Origin series. Maybe it was recognition for the knockout win over the NRL in their recent court case.

SPOTTED

The Penrith Panthers were named Team of the Year at the same function for winning the NRL minor premiership, grand final, NSW Cup, State championship, Jersey Flegg and S.G Ball. CEO Brian Fletcher accepted the award.

WAYNE ATTENDS ELIAS’ 60TH BASH

Colourful ex-footy player Johnny Elias is celebrating his 60th birthday this weekend with a quiet family affair and a handful of mates that include old super coach Wayne Bennett.

Way back in 1985, Elias won man-of-the-match for Bennett’s Brisbane Souths Magpies in a grand final victory over Wally Lewis and his Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

They have remained firm friends, including during the tougher times when Elias found himself on the wrong side of the law. These days he is a model citizen.

Elias played for Newtown, Souths, Canterbury, Wests, the Roosters and Balmain over a decade and was one of the last of the game’s old scallywags.

If there was a quid to earn on the side, you could almost guarantee Johnny would be involved.

It’s interesting that Elias’ age comes up a year younger than what he actually is on his Wikipedia page.

He laughed when I pointed it out to him.

“Towards the end of my career I shaved a year off,” he said.

“I didn’t want anyone thinking I was too old to get another contract.”

Others attending his birthday include The Daily Telegraph and Fox Sports star Paul Kent and presenter Yvonne Sampson, Johnny’s regular drinking partners at his favourite Balmain pub The Sackville.

CIRALDO’S CARING SIDE REVEALED

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has left for Fiji to attend the funeral of Viliame Kikau’s father, Ratu Ralulu, who tragically passed away last week.

The Bulldogs forward was the youngest of his dad’s seven children.

They were as close as any father and son.

It is a lovely touch that Ciraldo is attending the funeral and shows why Penrith Panthers players always spoke so highly of him as a caring person, not just a great footy coach.

Ciraldo will be back at Belmore on Monday.

Kikau is still on leave after playing for Fiji at the Rugby League World Cup.

Viliame Kikau and his father Ratu Ralulu.

LOWES GOES UPMARKET WITH COOPER

Lowes Menswear is going for more of a glamour and fitness look in their Christmas advertising campaign this year.

They’ve signed up former St George Illawarra star centre Matt Cooper, who has done photo shoots with model Charlie Powell.

This is a huge change from the standard footballer commercial for the clothing company.

Cooper has appeared on reality television shows Big Brother and The Celebrity Apprentice and has a massive social media following with a young demographic.

Matt Cooper and model Charlie Powell.

MEET LOGIE THE BEAR

The old North Sydney Bears have found support from West Indies cricket legends who are backing their joint bid with the Western Australian government to become the NRL’s 18th team.

Cricket writer Ben Horne – himself a Bears tragic – sent us this photo of Gus Logie, Courtney Walsh and the West Indies’ liaison manager Gerry Keyte decked out in Bears gear from the first Test match in Perth.

The WA government has already met with NRL heavyweights as the lobbying begins for their inclusion in the competition.

The Bears folded as an NRL side back in 1999 with tens of thousands of fans being lost to rugby league. Many of them became Swans supporters.

The NRL is expected to make a decision next year around the 18th franchise to enter the competition around 2025.

Bears tragic Gerry Keyte with Gus Logie and Courtney Walsh.

HADLEY CALLS THE SHOTS

Ray Hadley might be calling some extra games for the 2GB Continuous Call team next year, not just State of Origin and the grand final. The show will be sponsored by Brydens Lawyers, whose principal Lee Hagipantelis is a massive fan of Hadley’s commentary. The pair had lunch at the flash Grappa restaurant in Leichhardt recently with 2GB executives. Hagipantelis, who is also chairman of the Wests Tigers, wants Hadley to call some of their games.