skeepe
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Has he had enough of fishbowl?
By his manager, John Fordham
August 16, 2006
THE NRL can ill-afford to drive its No.1 drawcard Andrew Johns away from the game in this country.
If the NRL judiciary tonight votes in favour of a four-match ban and the Knights subsequently either fail to make the final eight or survive the first semi-final without their chief playmaker, would you blame him if he suddenly decided he's had enough?
Had enough of the pressure-cooker environment, the scrutiny and the witch-hunts that are part and parcel of being the game's highest-profile and best player.
Should Joey decide to walk in such circumstances - and let me make it abundantly clear that I have no brief from him to say he would - there would be no shortage of suitors lining up for arguably the most dominant player in the game's history.
There are numerous rugby league and rugby union organisations around the world that would jump at engaging the best player in either rugby code should he suddenly become available.
By sheer coincidence, one inquiry from an overseas rugby union organisation arrived only a few hours before the Knights took the field against Manly last Friday night, a match ultimately spoiled by the ineptitude of the whistle-blower and the failure of a touch judge to intervene.
There's also Joey's lingering interest in finishing his career with the Warrington Wolves. Every few weeks the club's owner is on the phone to register his interest.
Joey has often complained about the constant off-field pressure, focus and scrutiny that come with the lofty status he has achieved on the football field.
In Newcastle, a city he loves dearly, he lives in a fishbowl. Whenever he can escape to enjoy the simple things in life - surfing, a concert and, yes, even visiting an art gallery - he is at his happiest.
The poor guy can't make a move without someone ringing a news-paper, a radio station, a television station or his club with yet another piece of ill-informed gossip.
Over the years, he has had to put up with people encroaching on his property, causing a racket as they drive past his house or even ringing his doorbell to say hello.
This intrusion has driven him to the edge on many occasions. Three years ago he seriously considered a switch to rugby union where he believed the spotlight would not be as intense.
Ultimately, it was the prospect of lengthy separations fom his little boy Samuel that kept him in rugby league with the Knights.
Some people have questioned if the NRL is using the game's highest-profile player as an example in order to deflect growing and legitimate criticism of its match officials.
What nobody appears to be disputing is that the penalty grading far exceeds the severity of the offence.
With the assistance of his legal team headed by Alan Sullivan QC, Andrew Johns tonight will present his case to the NRL judiciary to answer a grade three contrary conduct charge.
The judiciary has to decide if the match review committee's penalty recommendation fits the charge.
The immediate playing future of Andrew Johns, one of rugby league's greatest players, ambassadors and characters, will hinge on the result.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20140687-23214,00.html
Awwww poor widdle Joey. Life's so tough. Give me a break. What an absolute crock of an article.
He did something wrong, and he must be punished. You'd think Fordham was his father or something. He's going to go, he's going to go. Call his bluff NRL. Then if he does go, we can all say good riddance to bad rubbish.
Will Fordham be fined for also now abusing officials? One can only hope.
What will we see tomorrow if the judiciary do in fact suspend him for 4 matches? Johns' wife? son? Anything to get sympathy for a man who is one of the biggest sooks to ever grace God's green Earth.
Joey, your time is up. We're all sick of you. Now f**k off you f**king merkin!
By his manager, John Fordham
August 16, 2006
THE NRL can ill-afford to drive its No.1 drawcard Andrew Johns away from the game in this country.
If the NRL judiciary tonight votes in favour of a four-match ban and the Knights subsequently either fail to make the final eight or survive the first semi-final without their chief playmaker, would you blame him if he suddenly decided he's had enough?
Had enough of the pressure-cooker environment, the scrutiny and the witch-hunts that are part and parcel of being the game's highest-profile and best player.
Should Joey decide to walk in such circumstances - and let me make it abundantly clear that I have no brief from him to say he would - there would be no shortage of suitors lining up for arguably the most dominant player in the game's history.
There are numerous rugby league and rugby union organisations around the world that would jump at engaging the best player in either rugby code should he suddenly become available.
By sheer coincidence, one inquiry from an overseas rugby union organisation arrived only a few hours before the Knights took the field against Manly last Friday night, a match ultimately spoiled by the ineptitude of the whistle-blower and the failure of a touch judge to intervene.
There's also Joey's lingering interest in finishing his career with the Warrington Wolves. Every few weeks the club's owner is on the phone to register his interest.
Joey has often complained about the constant off-field pressure, focus and scrutiny that come with the lofty status he has achieved on the football field.
In Newcastle, a city he loves dearly, he lives in a fishbowl. Whenever he can escape to enjoy the simple things in life - surfing, a concert and, yes, even visiting an art gallery - he is at his happiest.
The poor guy can't make a move without someone ringing a news-paper, a radio station, a television station or his club with yet another piece of ill-informed gossip.
Over the years, he has had to put up with people encroaching on his property, causing a racket as they drive past his house or even ringing his doorbell to say hello.
This intrusion has driven him to the edge on many occasions. Three years ago he seriously considered a switch to rugby union where he believed the spotlight would not be as intense.
Ultimately, it was the prospect of lengthy separations fom his little boy Samuel that kept him in rugby league with the Knights.
Some people have questioned if the NRL is using the game's highest-profile player as an example in order to deflect growing and legitimate criticism of its match officials.
What nobody appears to be disputing is that the penalty grading far exceeds the severity of the offence.
With the assistance of his legal team headed by Alan Sullivan QC, Andrew Johns tonight will present his case to the NRL judiciary to answer a grade three contrary conduct charge.
The judiciary has to decide if the match review committee's penalty recommendation fits the charge.
The immediate playing future of Andrew Johns, one of rugby league's greatest players, ambassadors and characters, will hinge on the result.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20140687-23214,00.html
Awwww poor widdle Joey. Life's so tough. Give me a break. What an absolute crock of an article.
He did something wrong, and he must be punished. You'd think Fordham was his father or something. He's going to go, he's going to go. Call his bluff NRL. Then if he does go, we can all say good riddance to bad rubbish.
Will Fordham be fined for also now abusing officials? One can only hope.
What will we see tomorrow if the judiciary do in fact suspend him for 4 matches? Johns' wife? son? Anything to get sympathy for a man who is one of the biggest sooks to ever grace God's green Earth.
Joey, your time is up. We're all sick of you. Now f**k off you f**king merkin!
![[furrycat]](/data/avatars/m/6/6602.jpg?1213416722){kind=avatar}
