Knights add Andrew Johns to coaching staff amid Mitchell Pearce drama
Reports the Newcastle Knights are set to lose former skipper and halfback Mitchell Pearce has been met with a stunning signing coup.
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The Newcastle Knights have revealed the return of the club’s favourite son as Andrew Johns joined the club as a coaching consultant.
Johns, who had been working with the Parramatta Eels spine over the past two Covid affected seasons, is one of the most sought after names to assist the development of halves.
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He has been widely credited with the development of Eels halfback Mitchell Moses into a genuine star, including making his Origin debut for the NSW Blues in 2021.
But amid word that Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce is set to walk away from the club to replace former NRL star James Maloney at Super League club Catalans, Newcastle are in a state of uncertainty over their halves.
The Knights do have halves including former Dragon Adam Clune, former Cowboy Jake Clifford and even fullback Kalyn Ponga able to form a new look halves combination, assuming the Pearce deal is made.
The Knights trumpeted the decision on Tuesday afternoon, as Knights CEO Philip Gardner praised the homecoming of the eighth rugby league Immortal.
“Having Andrew join the staff is a significant moment in the history of our Club,” Mr Gardner said.
“His Rugby League knowledge is unmatched anywhere in the world and he will be an excellent addition to the team.
“Joey’s return marks the beginning of an incredibly exciting period in our Club’s history and we can’t wait to see him get to work.”
The 47-year-old will work for the Knights covering the attack and halves two days per week, while continuing his commentary work for Channel 9.
Johns is an all-time legend for the Knights, having played 249 games, won premierships in 1997 and 2001, won three Dally M Medals and has the fifth most points in Australian rugby league history at 2176.
He played his entire career, apart from three games he played on loan to the Warrington Wolves in the UK Super League in 2005, for the Knights.
The news comes in the middle of the Pearce drama as coach Adam O’Brien told The Daily Telegraph that nobody at the Knights had “heard a single sentence” from Pearce or his manager.
That news was met with criticism from Channel 7’s Michelle Bishop who said O’Brien trying to plan to keep Pearce would “be his downfall”.
Fox Sports said that the Knights were attempting to get a transfer fee for Pearce to make the deal.
Johns is not afraid to speak his mind however.
Last month he said Pearce should leave the Knights for Catalans.
Johns also said he wouldn’t have picked Moses for the Blues despite being both an assistant under NSW coach Brad Fittler and Moses’ mentor at Parramatta at the time. He did however defend Moses after the Blues’ Origin III loss.
Speaking to news.com.au before the 2021 season, Moses said that Johns played a huge role in the development of the Eels’ spine, despite being locked out of training sessions in 2020.
“It’s outstanding. He’s one of the best halfbacks to play the game in my eyes and I looked up to him as a young kid so to be working with him at the moment is something special,” Moses said at the time.
It seems that Parramatta’s loss is Newcastle’s gain.
Originally published as Knights add Andrew Johns to coaching staff amid Mitchell Pearce drama
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