Andrew Johns

Andrew Johns, widely known as “Joey,” is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer, celebrated for his exceptional skill and leadership as a halfback. After making an immediate impact in his first start as a halfback for the Newcastle Knights in 1994, scoring 23 points against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Andrew Johns went on to lead the Knights to their first Grand Final victory in the 1997 ARL season. Debuting for the Newcastle Knights in 1993, Johns quickly developed a formidable partnership with his brother, Matthew Johns, securing the team’s maiden premiership with a decisive pass to Darren Albert in the final seconds of the 1997 grand final. His individual excellence was recognized with his first Dally M Medal in 1998.

He accumulated 26 appearances for the national side and captained Australia on two occasions in 2002. Johns earned Dally M Medals in 1999 and 2002, making him one of only two players to win the award three times, and received the Golden Boot award in 1999 and 2001, recognizing him as the world’s best player. His illustrious playing career concluded on April 10, 2007, due to a neck injury. At the time of his retirement, Johns held the record as the highest points scorer in Australian first-grade premiership history with 2,176 points.

His lasting legacy in the sport was further solidified with the establishment of the Andrew Johns Cup in 2020.