‘Show respect’: Secret Johns brothers feud goes public

A sad war of words has erupted with Andrew Johns and Matthew Johns not holding back in a feud that has raised alarm bells.

Matthew Johns and Andrew Johns.

The Johns brother’s cold relationship with Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien has gone public.

The siblings are Knights royalty and their prominent media roles make them powerful figures in the game.

It’s why recent comments made by Matthew and Andrew have caused a stir this month with O’Brien giving the eighth rugby league Immortal a public clip.

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Mystery continues to surround Andrew Johns’ role on the Knights coaching staff this year after he last year performed an ad hoc role in helping the team’s attack.

Johns has quietly stopped that role this year, according to reports, however, Knights star Lachlan Fitzgibbon last month said Johns had been with the team at a training session.

It makes Johns’ public questioning of O’Brien all the more eye-catching.

The legendary halfback called for O’Brien to give rising star Will Pryce his NRL debut after watching the Knights get thumped by the Bulldogs in Round 13.

Johns urged the Knights to play Pryce in their game against the Storm on Sunday following a poor performance by Jackson Hastings and Jack Cogger in the halves.

Matthew Johns and Andrew Johns.

“They have to pull the trigger next week ... they have to make a decision because Cogger and also Hastings have had no speed in the way they have played,” Johns said.

“There is no strength or running threat, and all the movement and the passing has been sideways.

“They have to put Will Pryce in next week. There might be deficiencies in his game, but they have to do something.”

O’Brien has ignored Johns’ call and on Tuesday selected Cogger and Hastings again.

He also dismissed Johns’ thoughts in the heat of the moment in his post-match press conference following the loss to the Bulldogs, which ended a remarkable four-match winning streak with Kalyn Ponga out injured.

Newcastle flyer Will Pryce. NRL Imagery

“I don’t want to make any knee jerk reactions now, although I did change the spine up earlier in the year a few times,” O’Brien said when asked about Johns’ comments.

“I think Will’s still learning the game out here to be honest. I don’t know how many games Joey has watched of NSW Cup, but he (Pryce) hasn’t had many back-to-back good ones.”

The Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday wrote the public war of words has not put pressure on O’Brien’s future at the club

Matthew this week suggested O’Brien was wrong to dismiss such an iconic figure at the club.

Matthew and Andrew have famously fallen out many times in public.

Despite this, Matthew showed his brother plenty of support when asked about O’Brien’s comments on The Matty Johns Podcast.

“Uncle Joey. Let me just clarify this. Me and Joey clash over a lot of things. Surprise. Surprise,” Matthew said.

“He (Joey) said after the game, ‘It’s time to give Will Pryce a go’. Now, Will Pryce is a young player they got from England. He’s the son of Leon Pryce. His dad was a great player.

“Will’s a great runner of the football. He’s raw, but Joey said, ‘It’s time to give him an opportunity’.

“He plays in the halves. He can play fullback. I actually think they should give him a go at No. 14 (on the bench). And just give him a little bit of a taste of it.

Adam O'Brien wasn't pleased with his Newcastle team.

“After the game, one of the journos asked Adam O’Brien, ‘Joey has said maybe you should think about giving Will Pryce a go’. And Adam O’Brien’s response wasn’t what I expected.

“He said, ‘Well I don’t know how many games of NSW Cup Joey watches, but’ — and it’s something he probably should have said to Will in private.

“Now listen, as I said before I can take the piss out of Joey as good as anyone, And I’m allowed to because we have the same blood pumping through our veins.

“But, Adam, it’s Joey Johns. The name’s on the grandstand. Heed the advice. There you go.

“When Andrew Johns talks, people listen. I mean, I don’t, but people listen.”

Cooper Johns responded on the podcast saying: “To mock his opinion in a post-match interview after they’d just been smacked by 30 points. Show a bit of damn respect”.

The Knights have had issues in their halves for most of the season and it appeared to blow up last month when reports claimed Hastings and Pryce had been involved in an altercation during a training session.

The brothers may be on the same page about Pryce, but it’s the first time in a long while.

The pair were not “on speaking terms” last year after a public radio falling out where Johns walked out of their show on SEN.

The show never recovered.

Matthew Johns confirmed in August they still hadn’t patched things up, but their relationship reportedly improved over the summer.