Embattled rugby league personality Matthew Johns has been stood down indefinitely from his on-air commitments with Channel Nine and his coaching role with NRL club Melbourne Storm.
Johns’ future has been under a cloud since the ABC’s Four Corners program aired allegations about his involvement in a 2002 group sex incident in New Zealand while he was playing for Cronulla.
Channel Nine chief executive David Gyngell said on Wednesday the decision was by mutual agreement “and in the best interests of the Nine network, the game and its supporters, Matthew Johns and his family”.
“The fact is, whatever the arguments about the details of the New Zealand incident involving Cronulla players in 2002, the conduct and its aftermath was simply unacceptable, fullstop,” Gyngell said in a statement.
“I fully endorse (NRL chief executive) David Gallop’s comments concerning the indefensible conduct of some players and the lack of respect for women and the critical focus on all stakeholders to help eradicate it from our game.
“I join with him in extending my apologies and sympathy to the young woman involved in the incident, who clearly is still distressed as a consequence.”
Gyngell said Johns had agreed the decision was in everyone’s best interests.
“I have always had great regard for Matt, but he knows better than anyone that this incident has placed him in untenable position,” he said.
“To his credit he has recognised that and acted upon it.”
The former Test star arrived at Nine’s Sydney offices on Wednesday morning, and was reportedly supported by manager John Fordham, wife Trish and Nine colleague Phil Gould.
His standing down was announced on Channel Nine shortly after 1pm (AEST) before a statement was released by the network.
Johns was believed to be recording an interview with Tracey Grimshaw that will air on Channel Nine on Wednesday or Thursday night.
The Storm, where Johns is a part-time time skills coach, released a brief statement less than 20 minutes after Channel Nine’s announcement.
“Following discussions between Melbourne Storm and Matthew Johns’ management earlier today, it was mutually agreed that Matthew would stand down from his part-time role with the club, indefinitely,” the statement read.
The Storm had said on Tuesday Johns would continue his role with the club.
Johns returned to Sydney on Tuesday night after being summonsed from a holiday in Western Australia by the network following the explosive ABC report.
Gallop reacted strongly to the report on Tuesday, which featured several sex scandal to have rocked rugby league in recent years.
He admitted much of what was aired on the program was “fundamentally indefensible” and that “violence against women is abhorrent and sexual assault and the degradation of women is just that”.
Gallop had also said there was a “massive question mark” over Johns’ future in the game.
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May 13th 2009 @ 2:44pm
matta said | May 13th 2009 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
joeb – your third paragraph about Shauns statement seems to blur the line between slightly provocative tv ads depicting consensual fantacy girls and sexual assault… that really trivialises the issue mate. Also its semi pius and more that a little reactionary…
May 13th 2009 @ 2:45pm
coops said | May 13th 2009 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
i am simply saddened by all of this – sad for the girl, sad for johns’ family and sad for the australian public who believed in his public persona. i personally used to enjoy watching matthew johns but how can anyone now view him in a positive light…. it’s a sorry state of affairs and i wish incidences such as this would cease to occur… (however, he’ll probably be back on the tv screens within 12 months once the dust has settled…?)
May 13th 2009 @ 2:50pm
sam a said | May 13th 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
Matta – semi pious reactionary behaviour from a 2GB listener? Never…
May 13th 2009 @ 2:56pm
matta said | May 13th 2009 @ 2:56pm | Report comment
sam a…I mean we all know its really the immigrants fault anyway….
In case its not clear that was ironic humor poked at 2GB callers.
May 13th 2009 @ 2:59pm
joeb said | May 13th 2009 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
matta – i’m suggesting as you well know that the constant bombardment of sex ads and the sexual exploitation of women in newspapers worldwide has it is confirmed a detrimental effect on society in general.
are you for a moment suggesting that Johns was simply born this way, a deviant or whatever?
mate it’s got a helluve a lot to do with the environment he was brought up in and the long-existing culture in RL (and other sporting codes no doubt) and please note my comment in the other thread: “BTW, do members of the NSW Constabulary still hold occasional wild get-togethers one would sometimes hear about in the past, or did it all end with the passing of Mr Sin Abe Saffron?” There’s a book out called ‘Gentle Satan’ written by Alan Saffron, Abe’s only son. It’s worth a read. Anyway Johns had done the decent thing and stepped down from his duties with Nine and the Storm, but it’s hardly going to change the embedded culture of group sex.
May 13th 2009 @ 3:02pm
sledgeross said | May 13th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Just a question. First, let me say, I find Johns behaviour abhorrant, and felt sorry for the young lady for making a bad judgement call which snowballed out of her control and has basically ruined her life.
But……..
If Johns serves an act of contrition, will the people bleating about how he should be banned let him back into the fold so to speak? Im sure we have all made decisions which which we regret because of the way it has affected other people. I agree, Johns needs to be censured for putting that lady through what she experienced, but for people to say they will never watch the game again. I find that hypocritical.
Footballers have a pack mentality, and that definitely needs to change, its unacceptable. But it is a societal problem as well. How many blokes here have had a one night stand, or judged a lady by her looks? Ok, its not as serious as the Johns case, but its the same mentality. What about that delightful Charmayne girl on the 4 corners program? SHe uses footballers for their bodies and the prestige of saying she slept with them. Is that any different?
Im not saying Matt Johns shouldnt be punished, as the message needs to be clear. But I dont think the vitriol heaped upon him to be made out as a scapegoat is 100% fair either.
May 13th 2009 @ 3:05pm
Redb said | May 13th 2009 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
Sledgeross,
Couldn’t disagree more on Johns – his action and lack of action was disgraceful as a man.
Redb
May 13th 2009 @ 3:07pm
matta said | May 13th 2009 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
Mate I totally disagree and there has never been any solid or mass agreement that ads, video clips, mags etc have any effect …plenty of shrinks say it does but plenty say it doesn’t.
It like the debate every time a school shooting happens in the USA.. the people from Christian cult (a debate for another time/site), trot out the ol’ “see they had violent video games”…. um no shit dick heads, they were violent people so they have violent video games. Most kids have violent video games or see snoop dog video clips and don’t shoot people or treat girls like crap.
May 13th 2009 @ 3:10pm
matta said | May 13th 2009 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
Sledge…if it were your daughter? ask yourself that and answer that honestly..
May 13th 2009 @ 3:11pm
matta said | May 13th 2009 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
sorry 2nd to last post was in reply to Jo