QRL bags a return for Johns
Steve Ricketts and Dean Ritchie
January 31, 2007 11:00pm
Article from: The Courier-Mail
QRL boss Ross Livermore yesterday laughed off rumours of a State of Origin comeback by Andrew Johns and urged the champion halfback to concentrate on club football.
Livermore said the battling Newcastle Knights needed Johns more than the NSW Blues and he did not believe the 32-year-old was capable of playing another Origin series.
Johns has been telling friends of a burning desire to return to Origin football in what could be his last season in Australia, with retirement or an English contract likely in 2008.
A veteran of 23 matches for NSW, Johns was unavailable for comment yesterday but sources indicated he desperately missed playing Origin last year and wants to help NSW avenge the 2006 series loss to Queensland.
Johns retired from representative football at the end of 2005 but was granted an exemption to play in last year's trans-Tasman Test in Brisbane.
"Joey had a winning farewell in the Test and he went out a winner in the Origin arena as well," Livermore said.
"He's better off concentrating on club football, especially as Newcastle are in a rebuilding stage under (new coach) Brian Smith and it could be a long, hard season.
"I think that last year took its toll on Joey and no matter how good he feels now he risks being run off his feet by the young bucks if he comes back to Origin."
Johns would have to apply to the ARL for permission to return to representative football and he would have to be available for this year's trans-Tasman Test in Brisbane on April 20.
North Queensland's Johnathan Thurston is the Test and Queensland incumbent and whether Johns is available or not it is likely he will get the nod for the Brisbane Test, even though Australian coach Ricky Stuart is a huge fan of Johns and was instrumental in getting him to play last year.
"Joey can't pick and choose his games. He has to be available for the lot," Livermore said. "But I'll believe it when I see it."
Johns's older brother Matthew said Andrew could consider a return to Origin if he felt good after the first six rounds of the NRL.
"I think if a player like Andrew is still capable of playing Origin then it would enter his head he has pulled the pin too early," Matthew said.
NSW coach Graham Murray said he believed the selectors would consider Johns if he was available but NSWRL chief executive Geoff Carr said he was not in a position to comment on a Johns comeback "because he has in fact retired".
There is a clause in Johns's Knights contract preventing him from playing representative football, and football manager Steve Crowe said the club would not consider releasing Johns for NSW unless he made an official request.
Johns's manager John Fordham said the player had thought long and hard before declining an invitation to play in Origin I last year after NSW was hit hard by injuries.
The Courier Mail