Get Joey
By PAUL KENT Rugby League Writer
June 23, 2004
THE cross-code war for Andrew Johns will intensify this morning as senior NRL stakeholders hold a last-ditch meeting with his manager in a bid to prevent the star pivot signing with the NSW Waratahs.
Details of the meeting emerged last night as the Knights yesterday put forward an expression of interest for rising Melbourne star Matt Orford an insurance bid, should Johns defect.
As speculation about a switch warmed up, Wallaby Matt Burke threw his support behind the signing of Johns, while England coach Clive Woodward gave the bid his universal approval.
"If it was to happen, I think it would be brilliant," Woodward said.
But Johns remained tight-lipped last night on the issue as he attended a launch party in Sydney for a book by his brother Matt's alter-ego, Reg Reagan.
NRL boss David Gallop has orchestrated the secret meeting, contacting Johns's manager, John Fordham, yesterday. "I was invited, asked would I like to meet with John Hartigan and David Gyngell tomorrow morning and I said absolutely," Fordham said.
Mr Hartigan is the CEO of News Limited, publisher of
The Daily Telegraph and a 50 per cent owner in the NRL, while Gyngell is the CEO of Channel 9, rightsholders for the NRL.
Gyngell might not be able to attend the meeting himself but is expected to be represented by a senior Nine representative.
Fordham said he had no idea what sort of proposal would be put forward.
"David was the one who rang me," he said. "He called me and said would I be agreeable and I don't mind saying that they are the two most important media proprietors in Australia.
"I've got no idea what they want to talk about. I was just asked if I was available to attend a meeting.
"Obviously, they're going to hard sell the rugby league situation but I can't double guess what they're doing."
A tight-lipped Gallop would not reveal what kind of deal would be offered but was insistent any deal would fit within the NRL's strict salary cap guidelines.
The NRL yesterday confirmed that the Knights had been given permission to push forward with a third party agreement, involving a construction company, to top up Johns's offer.
"We have advised the Knights and John Fordham of that today," Gallop said.
This morning's meeting, to be held at a private location, is planned to make Johns aware of his welfare beyond his playing career.
"I am interested in talking to Fordo about not only what is effectively the last few years of Joey's playing career, but the impact of a decision to go to rugby union over his role in our game, post-football," Gallop said.
"Rugby league has got a great track record and, I'm not saying rugby union doesn't, but rugby league has got a great track record of people continuing to be part of the family for a long time into the future."
Fordham met Channel 7 CEO David Leckie last Friday to discuss Johns's future within rugby union.
A Seven spokesman last night confirmed they discussed Seven becoming part of the "consortium" to lure Johns from league to union.
Fordham said Leckie was more interested in Johns as a television talent, saying he believed he was "probably the best of all" on Nine's State of Origin telecast.
