Twist in awkward coaching saga of Andrew Johns, Matthew Johns

The new career shift for Andrew Johns and Matthew Johns has been warmly received - but their potential boss is unhappy about one thing.

Brothers Andrew (left) and Matthew Johns watch a game.

Andrew Johns and Matthew Johns have had the welcome mat rolled out for them as they contemplate a coaching partnership with Samoa at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

The revelation that the brothers were interested in teaming up to coach the pacific team was initially met with a cold shut down from Rugby League Samoa president Tagaloa Faafouina Su’a.

The governing body declared it was sticking by current head coach Matt Parish rather than make the decision to replace him with a coaching super team made up of Sonny Bill Williams and the Johns brothers.

It followed Matthew Johns’ public declaration on Fox League’s Sunday Night with Matty Johns, he and brother Andrew would definitely consider taking up the role.

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On Wednesday night, Parish spoke publicly for the first time to welcome all three to his coaching staff.

However, Parish also admitted Johns’ public declaration on live TV was not his preferred way for the situation to have played out.

He said he plans to speak to Andrew and Matthew in coming days.

Pictured Matthew and Andrew Johns ahead of a charity launch for Brain cancer

“I didn’t think that The Matty Johns Show was the right place to express their interest but to have people of the calibre of Andrew and Matthew Johns wanting to be involved with the Samoan rugby league team, and Sonny Bill Williams, is great for our loyal fans, players and everyone involved with Rugby League Samoa,” he said, according to nrl.com.

Parish said he had already consulted with members of his team and officials about appointing Williams to the team’s coaching staff even before his interest was made public by Johns.

The Newcastle great had attempted to address the situation respectfully before going public with his plan to team up with brother Andrew.

“They’ve got a head coach at the moment there. But I spoke to Joey (Andrew) again about it today, and yeah (we are serious), definitely,” Johns said.

“We would do it for nothing. Quite seriously, and Joey is the same, you wouldn’t take a cent. Sonny wouldn’t.

“It would be a bit of three-way coaching. I don’t know how it would work, but in my opinion Samoa should be emulating what Tonga are doing.”

It comes amid reported discontent with Samoa’s biggest stars who are attempting to pressure the governing body for a new coach in order to commit to the national side.

‘The future of the game is international’

Speaking on NRL 360, The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Kent said a change in leadership would unlock a superstar side that would be stacked with Origin level talent.

It comes after Tonga had shocked the world with wins over the big three with wins over New Zealand, Great Britain and Australia within the last five years as players like Jason Taumalolo pledged allegiance to the national team.

What a team that would be for Samoa.

Kent said there are certain players who would join the national team with a change in coach.

“There is a legion of Samoan-eligible players that have declared privately they would play for Samoa if Matt Parrish is not the coach,” he said.

“The Johns boys started with a conversation between Andrew and Sonny Bill Williams about this untapped potential and about Samoa wanting to emulate what Tonga have done in recent years, where a lot of players who were eligible for Australia and New Zealand have committed themselves to Tonga, which culminated in them beating Australia in a Test.

“There is a theory that Samoa with the same sort of commitment could have the same impact, but they won’t do it with the current coach.”

The Australian’s Brent Read said it would be “absolute madness to not get the Johns boys and Sonny Bill Williams. Absolute insanity”.

Kent added that “there must be something as to why they won’t even entertain because there are four to five players there who have not played for Samoa, who have declared that they will play for Samoa under a different coach”.

Kent said that some gripes include that players wanted to honour their heritage in camp.

Samoan players do the Siva Tau before a 2017 World Cup match.

Read added: “It shouldn’t be about Matt Parrish. This is an opportunity to have Sonny Bill Williams, and Andrew and Matty Johns coaching your footy team. Regardless of Matt Parrish and whether he's done a good or bad job, you can’t turn that down.”