Johns weighing options ahead of decision
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 6:05 PM
Newcastle legend Andrew Johns is waiting for a formal approach from the Knights about opportunities at the NRL club next season before making a decision on his plans for 2008.
Johns has been inundated with offers for work next year, including taking on a bigger role at the Nine Network, and will head overseas next week to clear his head and decide his future.
His manager John Fordham is waiting for the Knights to formally put an offer together after earlier discussions set in motion plans to continue his coaching and mentoring role at the club.
There are no guarantees Johns will continue his 15-year association with the Knights and
the club have indicated if they come to a formal agreement with him they won't stand in the champion's way if he also wants to impart his knowledge on other clubs or codes.
Johns has held three training sessions with the Wallabies in recent weeks with a fourth session planned for this Friday.
The 33-year-old future rugby league Immortal said he would consider all his options while overseas and come back with a decision about his future.
"I don't really know what I want to do," he said at a junior coaching clinic in Newcastle.
"I'm going away in the next couple of weeks to sit down and work out where my future is headed.
"Luckily I have got a few options so it's just a matter of deciding."
Newcastle football operations manager Stephen Crowe said the club were determined to keep 'Joey' Johns associated with the football team and were confident an arrangement could be made.
"Ideally we'd like to see Andrew continue his involvement with the Knights going past this year," said Crowe.
"At some stage in the near future we would like to clarify what role he might have.
"It has all been positive those talks that we have had."
Fordham said Johns would consider all the options put in front of him but was still waiting to receive formal notification of the job Newcastle are offering.
"Newcastle will be weighed up with other opportunities," said Fordham.
"There are a whole range of options Andrew has got to consider."
Fordham said despite media speculation the ARU had not approached Johns about a role with the Wallabies during the World Cup in France starting in two months.
However, Johns said he had enjoyed his time working with the Australian rugby union side.
"It was very informal to start with to go down and have a kick around and they asked me to do a bit of kicking," said Johns.
"I have really enjoyed picking up a few things off them and the way they run things especially.
"They're a really good bunch of guys and I appreciate how responsive they are to the stuff I have been teaching them."
ARU managing director John O'Neill said he would be happy to have Johns on board more permanently, but would speak to coach John Connolly before making any decisions.
"It's good that Andrew's been able to help out at training on a consulting basis, kicking and passing and tactics, whether it goes beyond that I'm not sure," O'Neill said.
"But certainly, our field kicking needs some improvement and anyone who can help in that regard I'd be happy to see them on board."
Source:
NRL.COM
