jamesgould
19-01-2006, 06:41 PM
A few more Johns related articles from today:
Johns not sure about Origin
January 19, 2006
CHAMPION playmaker Andrew Johns says he will do the right thing by his NRL club Newcastle and skip the State of Origin series this year if he's not 100 per cent fit.
Johns only returned to training with the Knights this week after surgery on his right knee, which had been previously reconstructed in 2004.
A flare-up in the troublesome joint cut short his contribution to Australia's losing Tri Series campaign last November.
After going under the knife again, Johns sat frustrated on the sidelines for nearly three months but this week ran for the first time.
Johns said although he pulled up a little sore, there was none of the pain that dogged him last season.
But the 31-year-old halfback admitted that he will have to reduce his training load and "manage" his knee if he wants to coax a few more playing years from the worn-out joint.
"At this stage of my career I don't have to be as fit as I was when I was 21, I can pick and choose when I am in and out of the game," Johns said today.
"Fingers crossed, I can play a couple more years."
Johns will not play in any of Newcastle's pre-season trial matches but is set to run out in the curtain-raiser against Paramatta at EnergyAustralia Stadium in March.
The Knights half said despite his love of pulling on the blue jersey for NSW in the annual grudge series with Queensland his priority was with his NRL club, where he has three years left on his contract.
"State of Origin is just the pinnacle, the game in Melbourne is very attractive, I'd love to go and play there in a packed house," Johns said today.
"But I've got to be smart about it.
"If I am pulling up short after (NRL) games, I've got to do the right thing by the Knights.
"It's a long way down the track and I'll decide it (then)."
The first State of Origin game is on May 27 in Sydney with the decider to be held for the first time in Melbourne on July 5 at Telstra Dome.
He may have been the tormentor-in-chief of the Maroons in last year's Origin series but even Reds skipper Darren Lockyer hopes Johns doesn't bow out for the Blues just yet.
"He's a player that everyone comes to watch and he's vital to the game and if hangs up his boots for representative football there'll be people who are disappointed," Lockyer said.
"Having him out there, although he's a menace to Queensland, it's always good to play against him."
From: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17872148-23214,00.html
Knights primed to do it for Hagan, says Johns
Newcastle Knights captain Andrew Johns says the dumping of coach Michael Hagan has given the side extra motivation to perform well this National Rugby League season.
Hagan was told last week that his contract would not be renewed beyond this year.
Johns said Hagan had handled the situation well and continued to have the players' support.
"Hages has always had my full support," he said.
"He's done a lot for me as a player and as a person and he knows that and we'd like to send him out a winner, that's what we'd like to do."
Johns said he should be fit to play the opening game of the season, after battling continuing knee problems and undergoing surgery late last year.
He said there were some complications in the first few weeks after the operation but they had since been sorted out.
"The last two weeks it's really picked up," Johns said.
"I ran for the first time on Monday. I pulled up a little bit sore but that's to be expected. But I think I'll be right for the first comp game, it's just a matter of me managing the injury."
Johns said he wanted to again lead New South Wales in this year's State of Origin series but his management of the injury will be key to whether that is possible.
"State of Origin is just the pinnacle and obviously very attractive this year," he said.
"I'd love to go down there and play in a packed house but I've got to be smart about it.
"If I'm pulling up sore after games then I've got to do the right thing by the Knights."
From: http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200601/s1551013.htm
It's great to see Johns is putting the Knights first with this decision. Hopefully the knee is fine, and he plays, but if he can't do it then that doesn't bother me too much.
I wonder what the chances are of Johns playing all the way through his 3 year contract, no-one seems too confident about it right now! Hagan said something about it the other day. Blimin' knee injuries, they took down Harragon a few years early, not Johns as well!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:
Johns not sure about Origin
January 19, 2006
CHAMPION playmaker Andrew Johns says he will do the right thing by his NRL club Newcastle and skip the State of Origin series this year if he's not 100 per cent fit.
Johns only returned to training with the Knights this week after surgery on his right knee, which had been previously reconstructed in 2004.
A flare-up in the troublesome joint cut short his contribution to Australia's losing Tri Series campaign last November.
After going under the knife again, Johns sat frustrated on the sidelines for nearly three months but this week ran for the first time.
Johns said although he pulled up a little sore, there was none of the pain that dogged him last season.
But the 31-year-old halfback admitted that he will have to reduce his training load and "manage" his knee if he wants to coax a few more playing years from the worn-out joint.
"At this stage of my career I don't have to be as fit as I was when I was 21, I can pick and choose when I am in and out of the game," Johns said today.
"Fingers crossed, I can play a couple more years."
Johns will not play in any of Newcastle's pre-season trial matches but is set to run out in the curtain-raiser against Paramatta at EnergyAustralia Stadium in March.
The Knights half said despite his love of pulling on the blue jersey for NSW in the annual grudge series with Queensland his priority was with his NRL club, where he has three years left on his contract.
"State of Origin is just the pinnacle, the game in Melbourne is very attractive, I'd love to go and play there in a packed house," Johns said today.
"But I've got to be smart about it.
"If I am pulling up short after (NRL) games, I've got to do the right thing by the Knights.
"It's a long way down the track and I'll decide it (then)."
The first State of Origin game is on May 27 in Sydney with the decider to be held for the first time in Melbourne on July 5 at Telstra Dome.
He may have been the tormentor-in-chief of the Maroons in last year's Origin series but even Reds skipper Darren Lockyer hopes Johns doesn't bow out for the Blues just yet.
"He's a player that everyone comes to watch and he's vital to the game and if hangs up his boots for representative football there'll be people who are disappointed," Lockyer said.
"Having him out there, although he's a menace to Queensland, it's always good to play against him."
From: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17872148-23214,00.html
Knights primed to do it for Hagan, says Johns
Newcastle Knights captain Andrew Johns says the dumping of coach Michael Hagan has given the side extra motivation to perform well this National Rugby League season.
Hagan was told last week that his contract would not be renewed beyond this year.
Johns said Hagan had handled the situation well and continued to have the players' support.
"Hages has always had my full support," he said.
"He's done a lot for me as a player and as a person and he knows that and we'd like to send him out a winner, that's what we'd like to do."
Johns said he should be fit to play the opening game of the season, after battling continuing knee problems and undergoing surgery late last year.
He said there were some complications in the first few weeks after the operation but they had since been sorted out.
"The last two weeks it's really picked up," Johns said.
"I ran for the first time on Monday. I pulled up a little bit sore but that's to be expected. But I think I'll be right for the first comp game, it's just a matter of me managing the injury."
Johns said he wanted to again lead New South Wales in this year's State of Origin series but his management of the injury will be key to whether that is possible.
"State of Origin is just the pinnacle and obviously very attractive this year," he said.
"I'd love to go down there and play in a packed house but I've got to be smart about it.
"If I'm pulling up sore after games then I've got to do the right thing by the Knights."
From: http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200601/s1551013.htm
It's great to see Johns is putting the Knights first with this decision. Hopefully the knee is fine, and he plays, but if he can't do it then that doesn't bother me too much.
I wonder what the chances are of Johns playing all the way through his 3 year contract, no-one seems too confident about it right now! Hagan said something about it the other day. Blimin' knee injuries, they took down Harragon a few years early, not Johns as well!!! :evil: :evil: :evil: