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‘Wants to bash me’: Johns brothers’ show stopped

One day after Andrew Johns sensationally quit, NRL icon Matty Johns’ show has been pulled from out of nowhere.

Matthew Johns and Andrew Johns.
Matthew Johns and Andrew Johns.

Matty Johns’ Morning Glory show was nowhere to be seen or heard on Friday morning just one day after it was revealed his brother Andrew Johns has quit.

The sad falling out between the iconic rugby league brothers continues to spin and the drama took another turn on Friday when it was announced Friday’s show would not go ahead with Matthew’s involvement.

SEN host Matthew White said at the start of the show Matty’s absence was “pre-planned”.

“Now, no Morning Glory this morning,” White said introducing the show.

“Matty Johns has the morning off folks. Before you buy into it this one was pre-planned.

“I think Johnsy is off doing a fundraising event. So I was always scheduled to take over this one. Gee, there’s some focus on it, isn’t there. On this time of the morning, on this network, on this program. And deservedly so.

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“Matty Will be back with me for the Monday morning round up so make sure you tune in then. And then he’ll be back next Friday for Morning Glory. Joey? Not sure. I can’t answer that one.

“See into all that what you will, except for the fact this one was pre-planned and it’s great to be here this morning.”

The move comes one day after the popular Fox League personality said his brother wants to “bash” him.

The rugby league Immortal this week quit his spot on theprogram one month since his heated radio squabble with his brother.

Andrew Voss, Bryan Fletcher, Matty Johns and Mal Meninga during the Fox League 2023 Launch. Photo: Fox League / Brett Costello.
Andrew Voss, Bryan Fletcher, Matty Johns and Mal Meninga during the Fox League 2023 Launch. Photo: Fox League / Brett Costello.

Fox Sports reported Johns won’t be back this year and is still angry over the on-air spat that saw SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison forced to step in to try do broker a peace.

There have been ongoing suggestions on social media the furore is all for show — but Matty Johns has repeatedly admitted they aren’t talking to each other.

“I’ve just heard through the grapevine that basically he’s said to people that next time he sees me, he’s going to take my head off,” Matty said on The Matty Johns Podcast.

“Well, I just hope he’s learned to fight as opposed to the last time we had a little going over. No, I haven’t heard from him.”

Johns’ son Jack said on the podcast he is still talking to his uncle. Matty Johns then turned on his son in mock-outrage.

“So you’re swapping to the other side, eh Judas,” he said.

Listen to The Matty Johns Podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or press play here:

“Well, why don’t youse all just join in and give me a kicking, like your f***ing uncle, okay?

“Do you think if NSW win Origin, Joey will give me a call and bury the hatchet?

“Or do you think, this grudge, he’ll carry it on forever? Because I hope he carries it on forever.”

The beef all began with seemingly innocuous comments from Matty that suggested Queensland, under coach Billy Slater, had an advantage heading into the State of Origin series opener in Adelaide.

Joey is one of the most parochial Blues supporters in the game, and is arguably the greatest ever player to put on a Blues jersey, and was clearly irked as Matthew talked up the Queensland Maroons team.

Joey Johns is one of the most passionate Blues supporters going around. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Joey Johns is one of the most passionate Blues supporters going around. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Older brother Matty Johns knows exactly how to wind his younger brother up. Picture: Justin Lloyd.
Older brother Matty Johns knows exactly how to wind his younger brother up. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Four weeks later, they still haven’t spoken.

Matthew confirmed shortly after his brother’s on-air tirade that Joey was “off me”.

Hutchinson had planned to organise a lunch with Matthew and Andrew in and attempt to settle their differences.

It was Matty Johns who earlier this month showed the animosity between the brothers is very real.

When Matty introduced Andrew at the top of their show there was silence, before Matty joked: “Houston, we have a problem”.

“It’s official, Andrew Johns, my brother, is completely off me,” Matty said.

“There were rumours he may not have come in. I thought the last three weeks of not returning phone calls, I thought it was laziness. Obviously not.

“I will say this, and I’ll defend my brother here, this morning him not coming here has nothing to do with State of Origin. I thought his comments after the game were very strong and upfront and honest.

“The bottom line is he’s off me. It’s nothing new for me and Joey. We were forced to share a bedroom for 19 years. Every six months we have a blue like this, and it gives us a break from reach other.”

An SEN spokesperson at the time said: “No doubt our audience were looking forward to Andrew and Matty catching up and clearing the air. We look forward to that taking place over the coming weeks on SEN 1170am.”

Matty Johns said the pair previously had a feud where they did not speak to each other for two years before mending their relationship.

Listen to The Matty Johns Podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or press play here:

Originally published as ‘Wants to bash me’: Johns brothers’ show stopped

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/nrl/wants-to-bash-me-johns-brothers-show-stopped/news-story/b3ca04b2e906db5b1780491bec91786b