View source for Matthew Johns

{{short description|Australia international rugby league player}}
{{for|the American football coach and former player|Matt Johns (American football)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|retired        = yes
|name           = Matthew "Matty" Johns 
|fullname       =Matthew James Johns 
|image          = Matty Johns.jpg
|imagesize      = 
|caption        = Johns in 2016
|birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1971|7|27}}
|birth_place    = [[Cessnock, New South Wales]], Australia
|height         = {{convert|175|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight         = {{convert|89|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position       = {{rlp|FE}}
|club1          = [[Newcastle Knights]]
|year1start     = 1992
|year1end       = 00
|appearances1   = 176
|tries1         = 22
|goals1         = 0
|fieldgoals1    = 9
|points1        = 97
|club2          = [[Wigan Warriors]]
|year2start     = 2001
|year2end       = 
|appearances2   = 25
|tries2         = 3
|goals2         = 0
|fieldgoals2    = 1
|points2        = 13
|club3          = [[Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks|Cronulla Sharks]]
|year3start     = 2002
|year3end       =  
|appearances3   = 21
|tries3         = 8
|goals3         = 0
|fieldgoals3    = 0
|points3        = 32
|teamA          = [[Country New South Wales rugby league team|Country NSW]]
|yearAstart     = 1996
|yearAend       = 
|appearancesA   = 1
|triesA         = 0
|goalsA         = 0
|fieldgoalsA    = 0
|pointsA        = 0
|teamB          = [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]]
|yearBstart     = 1995
|yearBend       = 98 
|appearancesB   = 4
|triesB         = 0
|goalsB         = 0
|fieldgoalsB    = 0
|pointsB        = 0
|teamC          = [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]]
|yearCstart     = 1995
|yearCend       = 99
|appearancesC   = 9
|triesC         = 2
|goalsC         = 0
|fieldgoalsC    = 0
|pointsC        = 8
|source         = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Matthew-Johns/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref><ref>[http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Matthew-Johns_246.aspx Yesterday's Hero] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009164446/http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Matthew-Johns_246.aspx |date=9 October 2008}}</ref>
| module       = {{infobox person
| embed        = yes
| father       = 
| mother       = 
| spouse       = 
| education    = 
| alma_mater   = 
| relatives    = [[Andrew Johns]] (brother)<br>[[Jack Johns (rugby league)|Jack Johns]] (son) <br>[[Cooper Johns]] (son)
}}
}}

'''Matthew James Johns''' (born 27 July 1971){{cn|date=March 2025}} is an Australian [[rugby league]] media personality, commentator and former professional player. An [[Australia national rugby league team|Australian international]] and [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] [[State of Origin series|State of Origin]] representative {{rlp|fe}}, Johns played his club football primarily with the [[Newcastle Knights]], alongside his younger brother, [[Andrew Johns|Andrew]]. Since March 2011, Johns has been a co-host on the [[Triple M Sydney]] breakfast show called The [[Grill Team]] with [[Mark Geyer]]. Since 2012, Johns has been a part of the [[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]] NRL coverage. He had his own show on Channel 7 for one season in 2010, ''[[The Matty Johns Show]]'' and since 2013 has hosted a rugby league analysis and light entertainment show on Foxtel airing two nights each week.

==Playing career==

He played as {{rlp|fe}} for the Knights, playing outside his younger brother [[Andrew Johns]] at halfback for nine seasons. Johns was part of the Australian squad that won the [[1995 Rugby League World Cup]], and went on to play eight matches for his country. He also played four [[State of Origin series]] matches for New South Wales for four losses. Another highlight of his career with the Knights was the 1997 [[Australian Rugby League]] grand final victory over the [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/4895814/97-knights-where-are-they-now/|title=What happened to the 17 champion players|website=www.theherald.com.au|date=2 September 2017 }}</ref>

Johns was selected for the [[Australia national rugby league team|Australian team]] to compete in the end of season [[1999 Rugby League Tri-Nations]] tournament. In the final against [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] he played at five-eighth and scored a try in the Kangaroos' 22–20 victory.{{cn|date=August 2022}}

[[Salary cap]] problems led to Johns leaving the Newcastle club at the end of 2000 to play a season with the UK based [[Super League]] club [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/oct/12/rugbyleague.wiganwarriors/|title=Lesser big brother Johns up to leave Wigan a winner|newspaper=The Guardian|date=11 October 2001 |last1=Wilson |first1=Andy }}</ref> He considered playing for [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]] at the [[2000 Rugby League World Cup]] due to his [[Wales|Welsh]] heritage.<ref name="Wales launch Johns bid">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/3390523.stm|title=Wales launch Johns bid|publisher=BBC|date=14 January 2004|access-date=4 March 2008}}</ref> Johns played for the Wigan Warriors at five-eighth in their [[2001 Super League Grand Final]] loss to the [[Bradford Bulls]].

Johns returned to the [[National Rugby League]] in 2002 to play a season with the [[Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]], before shoulder and neck injuries forced his retirement at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|author=Greg Prichard|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=No regrets: injured Johns calls it quits|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/26/1035504924330.html|access-date=5 March 2009|date=27 October 2002}}</ref>

===2002 NZ tour sexual assault investigation===
While on a pre-season tour of New Zealand in February 2002, Johns and 11 other unnamed members of the [[Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]] were involved in a [[group sex]] session with a 19-year-old in Johns'  [[Christchurch]] hotel room.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/the-rugby-sex-scandal-that-shocked-australia-1.769474|title=The rugby sex scandal that shocked Australia|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] }}</ref><ref name="Barrett">{{cite news| last = Barrett| first = Rebecca| date = 8 May 2009| title = Matthew Johns in group sex scandal| work = [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/07/2563957.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090508213401/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/07/2563957.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 8 May 2009| access-date = 14 May 2009}}</ref><ref name="4 Corners">{{cite web|last=Ferguson|first=Sarah|title=Code of Silence|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2009/s2567972.htm|date=11 May 2009|access-date=14 May 2009}}</ref><ref name="Code of Silence">{{cite episode| title = Code of Silence| series = Four Corners| series-link = Four Corners (Australian TV program)| airdate = 11 May 2009}}</ref> Following an allegation of [[sexual assault]] from the woman five days later, police investigated the incident both in New Zealand and Australia but did not lay any charges.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Herald|title=Woman tells of Matthew Johns incident|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/495981/woman-tells-of-matthew-johns-incident/|access-date=21 May 2009|date=9 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|title=Christchurch police to question Sharks|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=1241053|access-date=21 May 2009|date=19 March 2002}}</ref>

Seven years later, the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC TV]] ''[[Four Corners (Australian TV program)|Four Corners]]'' documentary program "Code of Silence", broadcast on 11 May 2009, reported on the incident.<ref name="4 Corners"/><ref name="Code of Silence"/> Although ''Four Corners'' spoke to Johns about the incident, he declined to give an on-camera interview for the program.<ref name="statement">{{cite web|last=Ferguson|first=Sarah|title=Code of Silence - statement|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2009/s2575275.htm|date=19 May 2009|access-date=21 May 2009}}</ref> The alleged victim (known by the pseudonym "Clare") stated that she had returned to room 21 of the Racecourse Hotel with Johns and another player, and that when one of them began to kiss her without her consent, she felt socially awkward objecting to the unwanted advance; which eventually led to sex.<ref name="abc.net.au">[http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2009/s2567972.htm Four Corners - 11/05/2009: Program Transcript<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Johns admitted to taking part, but stated that the act was consensual.<ref name="Barrett" /> In May 2009, Johns agreed to be interviewed by the [[Nine Network]] to give his viewpoint of the incident, saying it had been painful for his family and regretted what happened.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ritchie |first=Dean |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) |title=Matthew Johns expresses regret over 'group sex' incident |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25446486-5001021,00.html |access-date=21 May 2009 |date=8 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510235628/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0%2C22049%2C25446486-5001021%2C00.html |archive-date=10 May 2009 }}</ref> He stated that he had been apprehensive about the consequences of the incident for seven years.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/ive-waited-7-years-for-call-johns/story-e6frg6no-1225711921979| first=Amanda| last=Meade| title=I've waited seven years for call: Matthew Johns| date=14 May 2009| work=The Australian}}</ref>

Subsequent to the ''Four Corners'' program, Johns was stood down by Channel Nine from his role as rugby league commentator and co-host of ''The Footy Show''. The [[Melbourne Storm]] also took the step of releasing Johns indefinitely as an assistant coach.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=The Herald Sun (Sydney) |title=Matthew Johns stood down by Melbourne Storm and Channel Nine |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25469726-661,00.html |access-date=21 May 2009 |date=12 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516182421/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C25469726-661%2C00.html |archive-date=16 May 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Vaughan|first=Robert|publisher=ninemsn.com|title=Melbourne Storm and Johns part ways|url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=813420|access-date=21 May 2009|date=13 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521131106/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=813420|archive-date=21 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=Fox Sports News (Australia)|title=Matthew Johns stood down indefinitely by Channel Nine, Melbourne Storm|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25472799-23214,00.html|access-date=21 May 2009|date=13 May 2009}}</ref>

==Entertainment career==
===Film===
{{main|Reg Reagan}}
Johns's first foray into entertainment began in 1999 when he adopted the persona of [[Reg Reagan]] in a low-budget film, ''In Search of the Holy Grail'', which was made for The Shoot Out 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival in [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/28/1096137230798.html|title=Sentimental bloke|last=Idato|first=Michael|date=29 September 2004|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=14 July 2009}}</ref> The film also starred fellow Knights players [[Andrew Johns]] as Bruno, [[Matthew Gidley]], Trent Watson, [[Danny Buderus]] and [[Robbie O'Davis]].  The [[Nine Network]] showed excerpts of the film on ''[[The Footy Show (rugby league)|The Footy Show]]''.

The Reg Reagan character was developed further in an article in ''[[the Sydney Morning Herald]]'' in 2000 where Johns described the character as a late 1970s Australian (or [[ocker]]) who smoked only [[Winfield (cigarette)|Winfield Reds]] and drank [[Tooth and Co.|KB beer]]. Fans of Johns's new side Cronulla started wearing copies of the T-shirt worn by Reagan, with the slogan "Bring Back the Biff", to games.

Johns appeared in ''[[Footy Legends]]'' where he appeared as himself. The film was directed by [[Khoa Do]], and released on 3 August 2006. In 2007 [[The Final Winter]] presented Johns in his first feature film acting role where he starred as 'Jack', the 1980s coach of the [[Newtown Jets]].<ref>{{cite news|title=From running on rugby league fields to acting on the Hollywood big screen|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/from-running-on-rugby-league-fields-to-acting-on-the-hollywood-big-screen/story-e6frf3ou-1226780413830|access-date=11 December 2013|newspaper=[[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]]|date=11 December 2013}}</ref>

===Television===
In 2002, Johns became a regular on ''[[The Footy Show (rugby league)|The Footy Show]]'' with Reagan and a new character, Trent, a gay flight attendant from [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} After his retirement as a player, Johns signed deals with the Nine Network and [[Sony Music|Sony Music Entertainment]]. He appeared on ''The Footy Show'' and as a commentator on Nine's broadcasts of rugby league matches. He has recorded a DVD titled "All of Me", released in June 2004, featuring skits by Reg Reagan and Trent the flight attendant.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

In 2004, as Reg Reagan, Johns recorded a song called "Am I Ever Gonna See the Biff Again?" sung to the tune of [[The Angels (Australian band)|The Angels]]' 1976 hit "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?". The song is a humorous lamentation of the decline of onfield violence in professional rugby league.
[[File:Matthew Johns (26 October 2008).jpg|thumb|right|Johns in October 2008]]
Johns was indefinitely stood down from his position on the Nine Network in May 2009 after the airing of the Four Corners program. He was subsequently replaced by [[Phil Gould (rugby league)|Phil Gould]].<ref name="McWhirter">{{cite news| last = McWhirter| first = Erin| date = 14 May 2009| title = Channel Nine league expert Phil Gould replaces Matthew Johns on Footy Show| work = [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]| url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25480755-5001021,00.html| access-date = 14 May 2009}}</ref> He was asked by Channel 9 to make a comeback to commentary later in the season but Johns declined.<ref>[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/johns-rejects-a-return-to-nine/story-e6freye0-1225769789030 Johns rejects a return to Nine| thetelegraph.com.au<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Towards the end of 2009, Johns turned down a $600,000-a-year contract with Channel 9 in favour of starting up his own production company alongside [[John Singleton]].<ref>{{cite news 
| last = Toohey
| first = Barry
| title = Johns too busy to help out Loz 
| work = The Sunday Telegraph
| place =Australia
| publisher = Herald and Weekly Times
| date = 6 December 2009
| url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/johns-too-busy-to-help-out-loz/story-e6frfgbo-1225807282549
| access-date = 6 December 2009}}</ref>

In 2010, Johns signed with rival network Channel Seven and launched a new family-friendly, NRL/entertainment show on 25 March at 7:30pm in NSW and Queensland.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2010/03/12/1268203379209.html| work=The Sydney Morning Herald| title=Matty Johns Show to premiere on Seven on March&nbsp;25| date=12 March 2010}}</ref> After one season, the show was discontinued.

In 2012, Johns joined [[Fox Sports (Australia)]] as part of their rugby league coverage. He is the host of his own show "[[Monday Night with Matty Johns|Sunday Night with Matty Johns]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/its-a-whole-new-ball-game-as-fox-signs-matthew-johns/story-e6frexnr-1226268793618/|title=It's a whole new ball game as Fox signs Matthew Johns|access-date=23 April 2012}}</ref>

===Author===
In 2004, Johns released Reg Reagan's 'This Is My Life' through [[Pan Macmillan]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Reagan|first=Reg|title=This is My Life|publisher=Macmillan Australia|date=1 August 2004|isbn=978-1-4050-3609-2|url=http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/display_title.asp?ISBN=9781405036092&Author=Reagan,%20Reg}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Radio===
In March 2011 Johns joined [[Triple M Sydney]]'s breakfast show ''[[Grill Team|The Grill Team]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25714836-5006002,00.html|title=Matty Johns for radio revival|date=1 July 2009|work=news.com.au|access-date=13 July 2009}}</ref> introducing a number of character impersonations including "Bruce", the effeminate producer for Triple M's sister station [[2Day FM]]'s breakfast team [[Kyle and Jackie O]]; the crude coal-mining magnate (and owner of the Newcastle Knights) [[Nathan Tinkler]]; and the rugby league greats Andrew Johns, [[Brad Fittler]] and [[Darren Lockyer]] as the "Future Immortals Gone Nuts". {{citation needed|date=April 2012}}  His last day in the Grill Team was on 7 December 2018. Johns currently work on SEN radio's "Morning Glory with Matty Johns" program. In June 2023, his brother Andrew Johns quit the show after a public falling out over comments Matthew Johns made about Queensland ahead of the [[2023 State of Origin series]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/andrew-johns-quits-sen-radio-spot-amid-fallout-from-onair-family-feud/news-story/1c7488edbb3b562386040bad4e303085/|title=Andrew Johns quits SEN radio spot amid fallout from on-air family feud|website=www.news.com.au}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Johns is founder and co-owner of Steel City Beer Company with [[Andrew Johns]], [[Danny Buderus]], [[Kurt Gidley]] and [[Matt Hoy]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pubtic.com.au/newcastle-legends-behind-launch-of-steel-city-beer-co/#:~:text=Steel%20City%27s%20founders%20include%20proud,and%20Sophie%20and%20Ryan%20Ginns | title=Newcastle Legends Behind Launch of Steel City Beer Co | date=16 April 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/7663201/knights-say-cheers-to-stadium-beers/ | title=Knights say cheers to stadium beers | date=18 March 2022 }}</ref>

Johns' sons, [[Cooper Johns]] and [[Jack Johns (rugby league)|Jack Johns]], are former rugby league players.

==Works==
===Filmography===
* ''In Search of the Holy Grail'' (1999)
* ''[[The Footy Show (rugby league)|The Footy Show]]'' (co-host, 2000's)
* ''All of Me'' (DVD, 2004)
* ''Blood, Sweat and Beers'' (DVD, 2005)
* ''[[Footy Legends]]'' (2006)
* ''[[The Final Winter]]'' (2007)
* ''[[The Matty Johns Show]]'' (host, 2010)
* ''[[Fox Sports]] Rugby League Coverage'' (host of Monday Night Football, 2012–present)
* ''[[Monday Night with Matty Johns]]'' (host, 2013)
* The late show with Matty Johns

===Songs===
* "Rugby League Outlaw" (2005)
* "Video Killed the Football Star" (2008)

===Books===
* ''This Is My Life'' (2004) {{ISBN|1-4050-3609-5}}
* ''From The Sheds'' (2008) {{ISBN|0-7322-8651-4}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|1426657}}
*[http://www.wiganwarriorsfans.com/wigan/?s=Player&o=18044 Wigan Warriors profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071004201347/http://www.stateoforigin.com.au/SOOgame/PlayerDetails.aspx?Pid=174 State of Origin official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070328123019/http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/players/Matthew_Johns.html Matthew Johns' Rugby League tables]

{{Fox League}}
{{Newcastle Knights squad 1997 ARL premiership}}
{{Australia 1995 Rugby League World Cup Squad}}
{{Newcastle Knights Team of the Era}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johns, Matthew}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australia national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Australian company founders]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England]]
[[Category:Australian humorists]]
[[Category:Australian male comedians]]
[[Category:Australian male film actors]]
[[Category:Australian people of Welsh descent]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league commentators]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league players]]
[[Category:Australian sports podcasters]]
[[Category:Cessnock Goannas players]]
[[Category:Country New South Wales Origin rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players]]
[[Category:Drink company founders]]
[[Category:Australian businesspeople in the drink industry]]
[[Category:Fox Sports (Australian TV network) people]]
[[Category:New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin players]]
[[Category:Newcastle Knights captains]]
[[Category:Newcastle Knights players]]
[[Category:Rugby league five-eighths]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Cessnock, New South Wales]]
[[Category:Sexual assault in sports]]
[[Category:Wigan Warriors players]]
[[Category:Comedians from New South Wales]]
[[Category:People from Newcastle, New South Wales]]