Joey's cries for help ignored

MATTHEW Johns says he should have seen his brother Andrew's cries for help earlier, but he was glad the retired Newcastle NRL star's bipolar disorder was now out in the public arena.

MATTHEW Johns says he should have seen his brother Andrew's cries for help earlier, but he was glad the retired Newcastle NRL star's bipolar disorder was now out in the public arena.

Matthew Johns said Andrew did not use his illness as an excuse for his drug use over 10 years but was proud he had now cleared the air over both issues.

“He's been carrying a lot of guilt and shame for 10 or 12 years,” Matthew Johns told the Nine Network today.

“He didn't use the bipolar thing as an excuse ... but I'm glad it's coming out now.

“It explains a lot.

“This is something that's been building up for a long time, it's an illness.”