- Andrew Johns has spoken out on his future career working in the media
- The former footy star also lifted the lid on whether he will ever become a coach
- Johns has been linked with several NRL jobs, including roles with NSW
Aussie broadcaster and former NRL star Matty Johns has revealed that he has been sounded out by one footy club over a potential career change.
The former Newcastle and Cronulla star, 53, will see his lucrative contract with Fox Sports come to an end later this season and there is no word yet on whether he will extend that deal with the TV station.
But rumours have been circulating in recent months that Johns may have been tapped up by one NRL club over a potential return to coaching.
During an interview with The Daily Telegraph, the former New South Wales and Australia player was not at liberty to reveal the club that had reached out to him but told Phil Rothfield that they had been in touch to gauge his interest.
‘I’ve had a bit of an approach from a third party acting for a club who asked if there was any interest and would I consider it,’ he said to The Daily Telegraph.
‘I put it back on them… “Let me know what it’s worth and then I’ll come and have a coffee”.
Fox Sports presenter Matty Johns has revealed that an NRL club has sounded him out over a potential career swap
Johns (left, stood with his brother Andrew, right) appears reluctant to step away from the media but his lucrative contract with Fox is set to end later in 2025
He then added: ‘If they’re silly enough to pay me what I’d be asking for, I might be silly enough to do it.’
Johns had recently been linked with the vacant New South Wales posting after Michael Maguire jumped ship to join the Brisbane Broncos at the start of the season, with Laurie Daley subsequently being confirmed as his successor.
But Johns stated in October that he had ruled himself out of the running for the vacant role stating he had chosen to go down the media route, instead of coaching, following his playing career and that there may be better options out there in comparison.
But when pressed by Rothfield if he would one day consider going down the coaching route, Johns said: ‘It’s a long shot but, absolutely I’d like to do it.
‘There’s nothing that could give you more satisfaction than seeing players and teams improve.
‘I’ve done a lot of individual stuff over the years. I’ve worked with Cooper Cronk, Toby Sexton, Cameron Munster, Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker. I love it.
‘But there’s the bulls*** stuff outside of coaching, dealing with sponsors, dealing with people like you and me in the media, all that stuff… and then all the hard work.’
It comes after Johns had seemingly snubbed the idea of taking up a coaching role, telling the Backstage podcast that choosing to go down the media route was the best choice he made after hanging up his boots.
Johns was not at liberty to reveal which footy club had contacted him but stated that he ‘may be silly enough to’ take up a coaching role, if he gets the right offer
The 53-year-old appeared to balance out the positives and negatives of stepping into caoching but added that he lives a ‘low-stress life’ working in broadcasting
‘When people come out and say to me “Matthew Johns for NSW coach”.
‘I’ll be perfectly honest, it feels good because it strokes the ego. In me, there’s part of me that thinks I should take it and show them how good I am and win three or four in a row,’ he told the podcast.
‘(But) I’ve picked my path and my career has been in the media and it has been unbelievable. The best thing I have done in my life in the last 15 years is to make my life very low-stress.
‘I have a lot of fun and it’s a low-stress life. I put currency on having a life like that, spending time with you people (family) than I do with having to feel special by coaching.’
It appears, though, that it would take a lot to lure the former Newcastle and Cronulla star away from his current role in the media, with Johns re-stating to Rothfield how much he enjoys working at Fox.
‘The people I work with – Fletch, Hindy and Gorden – are a lot of fun,’ Johns said.
‘The whole team is at Fox Sports. They’re all terrific people. I love going to work. I’m always happy there and I’d miss it for sure. Let’s just see where it goes.’
