Aussie superstar Johns to play against Leeds (From Warrington Guardian)

Aussie superstar Johns to play against Leeds

WARRINGTON Wolves have handed 31-year-old Australian legend Andrew 'Joey' Johns the opportunity to play in British Super League.

Johns, the current half back with NRL club Newcastle Knights, will be coming on loan to the Wolves until the end of the season, arriving in time to train sufficiently and play in Engage Super League X round 27 versus Leeds Rhinos.

He was born in Cessnock and is the son of a coal miner and country rugby league player.

After playing junior rugby league in Cessnock, he joined Newcastle Knights in 1989.

He made his first grade debut in 1994 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, scoring a record tally of points, 23, for a player making his first Premiership start.

Johns soon formed a partnership with his older brother Matthew, who played at five-eighth.

He played a pivotal role in the Knights' 1997 ARL grand final against Manly, playing through injury.

The partnership was broken in 2000 when salary cap pressures forced Matthew to leave the club and join Wigan Warriors.

He soon became captain of the team and led Knights to another grand final win, beating Parramatta Eels 30-24 in 2001. He was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for man of the match.

In his career, he has also represented his country at two World Cups, and on one Kangaroo tour, playing 17 games for Australia.

He has also played in 23 games for New South Wales over a decade of State of Origin, captaining the side to a series win in 2001 and 2003.

In a surprising move by NSW selectors, Johns was picked to replace injured half backTrent Barrett in this year's State of Origin game two and game three.

Johns made his comeback from a broken jaw after being out of action for much of the previous 18 months due to a knee reconstruction.

He is often considered the best player of his generation but has been plagued by injury in the past few seasons, often before or during the finals series.

He was the target of a massive offer from rugby union in 2004 but decided to stay on with the Knights until 2008 in a deal which includes a contract with Channel 9 at the end of his career.

Achievements

Representative Honours

Country Origin 1995-1996

23 games for NSW 1995-2002, 2005

17 Tests 1995-2002

World Cups 1995, 2000

Kangaroo tour 2001

He has captained Club, State and Country.

Awards

Most Valuable Player in 1995 World Cup

Dally Messenger Award winner in 1998, 1999 and 2002.

Provan-Summons Medal winner in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

Rugby League Week's Player of the Year 1998, 1999, 2002

NRL Player of the Year 1998, 1999, 2002

Won Golden Boot award as best player in the world 1999, 2001.

Player of the Series Australia v Great Britain 2001

Clive Churchill Medal 2001