MATTY Johns has slammed Channel 9 for throwing The Footy Show under the bus with its public apology to Cameron Smith.
Smith had refused to have any dealings with Channel 9 following the broadcast of 60 Minutes’ story on quadriplegic former NRL star Alex McKinnon, which aired in July last year — just days before the State of Origin series decider at Suncorp Stadium.
Smith ended his Channel 9 boycott after he received a public apology during the live broadcast of The Footy Show on Wednesday night.
Host Paul “Fatty” Vautin issued an apology to Smith on behalf of the Nine network, but Johns said it was a bad look for Channel 9 to ask Vautin to make the apology.
“Fatty handled it well,” Johns told Triple M’s The Grill Team on Thursday morning.
“I felt sorry for Fatty to have to do it. I think I speak on behalf of just about everyone to say, wouldn’t you think it’d be up to 60 Minutes to apologise?
“If, say for instance, someone on The Footy Show unfairly abused someone, would it be fitting for (60 Minutes reporter) Liz Hayes to apologise on The Footy Show’s behalf?
“It had nothing to do with The Footy Show and it had nothing to do with Fat.”
Johns’ co-host Gus Worland said 60 Minutes should still be held accountable for the debacle.
“60 Minutes have got to come up with something,” he said.
“60 Minutes have got to explain exactly what they did, what they edited out, how they did it and why they did it? 60 Minutes have got a lot to answer for.”
AFL great David Schwarz said 60 Minutes still owed Smith an additional apology.
“Why can’t 60 Minutes give the apology?” the Melbourne Demons forward told SEN’sBreakfast with Frank and Ox.
“It’s easy for his mates to apologise. 60 Minutes — the ones who put him under the bus — they’re very good at pointing the finger. How about they actually apologise?
“60 Minutes should make the apology. They still owe Cameron Smith an apology.”
Smith was heavily criticised following the 60 Minutes story after edited footage suggested the 32-year-old disregarded McKinnon’s welfare at the time of the tragic injury and failed to reach out to the McKinnon family in the aftermath of the incident.
“Before we get started, we know it’s been a difficult relationship between Channel 9 and yourself over the past 12 months,” Vautin said to Smith on Wednesday night.
“With regards to those issues, on behalf of the Nine network we want to apologise to you and your family.”
Smith was reportedly furious with how he was portrayed in the 60 Minutes piece, alleging key video and audio recordings were omitted from the broadcast.
The Melbourne and Queensland Origin captain also alleged he was never offered the opportunity to respond to claims made against him in the 60 Minutes piece.
The criticism directed at Smith riddled the Queensland team’s preparations for Game 3 of the series, with Smith refusing all interview requests before the decider.
McKinnon initially described Smith’s behaviour as “disgusting” when first shown footage of the tackle that saw him taken immediately to a Melbourne hospital from the Storm’s clash with the Knights at AAMI Park.
Smith immediately argued with referees over the decision to award a penalty to Newcastle for Storm forward Jordan McLean’s dangerous lifting tackle on McKinnon, but the eight minutes of silent respect Storm players paid to McKinnon as he received treatment was not shown by 60 Minutes.
McKinnon watched the full replay of the game with the 60 Minutes crew and described Smith’s actions as “f***ing ridiculous”.
The footage showed Smith telling referees: “If he doesn’t duck his head, that doesn’t happen.”
Smith and McKinnon have since sorted out their differences.
Smith and Nine also appear to have sorted out their differences with Smith accepting the apology made by Vautin.
“It has been a difficult 12 months and I just want to thank you for that apology on behalf of the network,” Smith said on The Footy Show.
“It’s no secret I was pretty disappointed with the 60 Minutes episode that aired last year and everything that happened afterwards too.
“That was probably the most disappointing thing, that I thought it took away from a beautiful story about Alex McKinnon and his fiancee Teigan.
“That was something we should have been focusing on and celebrating but that’s in the past now and I’ve worked all through that with Alex.”
Rugby league supporters were not as forgiving for the way Channel 9 issued the apology almost one year after the 60 Minutes story was broadcast — again just days out from the State of Origin clash at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.
