Matty Johns Assistant Coach

[Apey]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/n...-assistant-coach/story-e6frfgbo-1226005969992

MATTY Johns is poised to rejoin the Newcastle Knights as an assistant coach in a massive boost to the club he left 11 years ago in tears. With his television career at Channel 7 on hold, Johns will tomorrow sign a deal to replace his brother Andrew as Rick Stone's specialist assistant for the 2011 premiership campaign.

One of the sharpest and shrewdest football brains in the business, Johns will be returning home for the first time since 2000 when his emotion-charged sacking led to angry protests from fans and threats to boycott games.http://blogs.news.com.au/dailyteleg...ytelegraph/comments/how_the_nrl_coaches_rate/

The appointment could cause more friction in an already shaky relationship with his once inseparable brother Andrew, who walked out on the Knights' coaching staff at the end of last season over a pay dispute.


Andrew Johns wanted $30,000 but the club would only pay him $15,000.

Now Matty will step in - and for more than the Knights were willing to pay Andrew.

Negotiations for the coaching deal started when Knights officials read The Daily Telegraph's front page story last Tuesday that Seven had ditched Johns' show from prime time and that he was likely to take the year off.

"As soon as I read your story I picked up the phone and rang Matty," said football manager Keith Onslow, the recruitment guru who originally signed the Johns boys from Cessnock as teenagers.

"Matty confirmed he had some time up his sleeve so I went to Stoney and the club chairman and we made it happen from there.

"He's going to have a big influence at the club."

Skipper Kurt Gidley said the players were looking forward to working with the television larrikin in the more serious role. "It's a wonderful thing for our club," Gidley said last night. "Personally, I've rung him a bit over the last few years anyway for a bit of advice on various things when I've needed it.

"He's got a great football brain and he'll probably be working with our halves and hookers, but I'd say every player in the club will be looking to him for a bit of help at different stages. Storm players like Cooper Cronk will tell you how good he is to have around the place."

Knights coach Ricky Stone could not be contacted yesterday. It was his birthday and he was spending time in Newcastle with his young family but is known to be delighted at securing Johns to work with his playmakers.

Johns told The Daily Telegraph of his move to join Newcastle at Brookvale Oval on Friday night where he was watching the Manly-Sharks trial match but asked for nothing to go public until the deal had been finalised.

"I've obviously still got a lot of strong feelings for the Knights and helping Rick Stone with a really promising squad is something I'm looking forward to," Johns said.

 

[aqua_duck]

I think the problem with Joey is that he was so naturally gifted that it might have been hard for him to pass on skills that seem so easy to him but might be quite difficult for players of lesser ability (in other words everyone else) to master.
Matty didn't have 1/3rd the natural ability Joey had but that might be a blessing in disguise. Certainly his results with the Storm (regardless of the cap issues) are encouraging

 

[roopy]

I thought that was what we pay Dunneman to do.

I think Matty is a better coach than Andrew.

 

[Serc]

Sounds like a Joey replacement rather than a Dunemann replacement roops

Johns links with Knights
By Frank Barrett
newcastleknights.com
14/02/2011 11:00:00 PM

The Coal & Allied Newcastle Knights have today announced that former Test and State of Origin player Matthew Johns will join Rick Stone’s coaching ranks in a part time specialist role working with the halves, hookers and fullbacks.
Johns, the Cessnock born and bred junior, rose to prominence through the Knights’ development system and went on to win a premiership and several representative caps in an illustrious playing career. Post football the likable larrikin developed into a high profile media personality while juggling a variety of coaching roles with significant success.
Knights Strategic Development Manager Keith Onslow played a pivotal role in securing Johns services, courtesy of a strong relationship which dates back to when he first signed Matthew to the Knights in 1990.
“Matthew has always had a keen interest in coaching and development, especially in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region,” Mr Onslow said.
“During a phone conversation with Matt last week we discussed what his commitments for the 2011 season were, when he suggested he might have some spare time on his hands we tossed around a couple of ideas before I said I’ll call you back in an hour.
“After conversations with Club Chairman Rob Tew and Coach Rick Stone the wheels were set in motion for Matt’s return to the club.
“Matt will work with Knights NRL players once a week along with some specialist development coaching with our Talent Identified Junior program, creating a wonderful learning environment for these youngsters to enjoy his vast knowledge and experience in rugby league.”

http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/...splay&id=33486&title=johns-links-with-knights

 

[Serc]

Knights on winner with Matty Johns

• Phil Rothfield
• February 15, 2011 12:00AM

WHEN Channel 9 sacked Matty Johns over the New Zealand sex scandal two years ago, super coach Wayne Bennett was one of the first to call him.

"There's a job here at the Dragons if you are looking for one," Bennett said, not feeling sorry for him, but wanting to make use of one of the sharpest footy brains in the business at St George-Illawarra before anyone else could get him.

The Bennett phone call best sums up Johns' standing in the game as a tactician, a skills coach and a good bloke to have around a football club.

Forget the madness of his television shows and the much loved characters he has played like Reg Reagan, Don Kirk, Alby Sandals and Harry Hardman.

There is a serious side to Matty Johns and it's a seriously valuable asset to any NRL club.

Some of the Melbourne Storm's success - salary cap cheating aside - can be attributed to his role as a full-time assistant under Craig Bellamy over a number of years.

Just ask the players.

"Matty's taught me a hell of a lot and I definitely wouldn't have done what I've done without him and his influence on me," said champion halfback Cooper Cronk.

When he won his first Test jersey, Cronk said: "I owe it to Matty. He not only knows about rugby league and helped me out in terms of tactics, but he's just a good fellow to have a chat with and always gives you food for thought."

Generally, NRL coaches are an insecure lot.

Not all of them want to give credit where its due. Not so Craig Bellamy when you get him talking about Johns' input at the Storm.

"No-one's got a better footy brain than Matty," Bellamy once told me.

"He was a big part of our success in Melbourne.

"We didn't go out and buy a lot of our superstars.

"They were mostly identified as youngsters then came through our development system and they learnt a lot of their skills from having Matty at the club."

It explains why he's had offers over the years from probably 10 of the 16 clubs - Manly, the Roosters, the Dragons, Parramatta, the Sharks and Bulldogs among them.

It explains why Wayne Bennett was straight on the phone to him, even at a time no-one else wanted a bar of him.

And it explains why Rick Stone and the Newcastle Knights are seriously on to a winner.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...with-matty-johns/story-e6frext9-1226005975418

Hmm...first time in a while that Rothfield has had something nice to say about us...lol

Interesting though some of the comments, especially the ones attributed to Bennett and Bellamy!

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Good news and a great move by Onslow.

 

[Alex28]

Fantastic move. Very happy with this.

 

[knights girl]

A really good positive move....

 

[B-dos]

certainly is a great move by the club. i was vocal in my feeling on the club allowing Andrew to leave however Matthew is indeed an equal if not superior acquisition.

well done to those involved in securing this deal

 

[roopy]

He should start work with Tyler Sullivan.
An 18 year old with as much natural potential as a young Jarod Mullen, but who ended up in the Cessnock grandfinal side because we couldn't think of a way to use him.
In fact, we have an amazing young crop of playmakers in Chad Redman, Tyler Sullivan, Will Smith, Aloi Taufaao, Api Pewhairangi, Maipele Morseau and Tyrone Roberts who nearly all play many different positions and have unlimited potential with the right coaching. Plenty of work there for Matty.

Onslow did a great job signing all those kids with amazing potential - now we need to find a way to help them reach it.

 

[macavity]

He should start work with Tyler Sullivan.
An 18 year old with as much natural potential as a young Jarod Mullen, but who ended up in the Cessnock grandfinal side because we couldn't think of a way to use him.
In fact, we have an amazing young crop of playmakers in Chad Redman, Tyler Sullivan, Will Smith, Aloi Taufaao, Api Pewhairangi, Maipele Morseau and Tyrone Roberts who nearly all play many different positions and have unlimited potential with the right coaching. Plenty of work there for Matty.

Onslow did a great job signing all those kids with amazing potential - now we need to find a way to help them reach it.

Tyrone Roberts has impressed in the trials. Super fit too.

 

[cram]

certainly is a great move by the club. i was vocal in my feeling on the club allowing Andrew to leave however Matthew is indeed an equal if not superior acquisition.

well done to those involved in securing this deal

IMO Matthew brings a lot more to the table then Joey. Joey may have the superior footy skills but Matthew is the all round package and is a great acquisition.

 

[B-dos]

agreed cram

 

[Tom155]

i agree great move by knights

 

[Yosh]

If Bennett was the first to call Matty when he got fired, maybe Matty can return the favour and give Bennett a call him and tell him that "There's a job here at the Knights if you are looking for one"

Could work.

 

[aqua_duck]

Here's hoping Matty can have the sane influence here on the youngsters as he did at the storm

 

[aqua_duck]

If Bennett was the first to call Matty when he got fired, maybe Matty can return the favour and give Bennett a call him and tell him that "There's a job here at the Knights if you are looking for one"

Could work.

You could have Nev and Gids on other lines doing a conference call

 

[Serc]

I must say I'm impressed after reading the comments on the Herald website (28 as of right now)...looks like their Knights hate agenda hasn't completely brainwashed people after all!

 

[CJG 182]

Great pick up, I hope he goes well, the bloke could use a break.

 

[Rusty]

Maybe Bennett is the reason Matty's returned to the Knights? Hmmm