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.
Jackie G
Guest
I am a 49 year old mother, am not a football follower or a follower of Matthew johns, however, I am so disgusted about the way people are judging this man that i felt I would make a comment. I do not understand homosexuality, group sex or swinging, however, none of these things are illegal and therefore I live and let live. There are alot of people who think that homosexuality is immoral, however, they have no right to sack or persecute someone due to their homosexuality. So it should be for group sex. It is not illegal, the woman was a consensual adult who made a decision to be part of this. The matter was later investigated and found that there was nothing to answer to that it was consensual and not illegal. Now 7 years later, she decides to name a high profile person, yet amazingly does not remember anyone else. I would also urge Andrew Johns to view his contract to see if he can take legal action against channel 9 for standing him down in light of the fact that he has done nothing wrong legally. I believe the only person he has to answer to is his wife, which he has clearly done and she has forgiven him and they have saved their marriage. I personally am going to black ban any watching of channel 9 in our house until such time as they do the right thing and put Andrew Johns back in his job. I urge all other people who agree with me to cease watching any channel 9 shows until such time as they reinstate Andrew Johns. We live in a country of innocent until found guilty. Matthew Johns was innocent of any wrong doing other than to his wife, this was investigated, he was found innocent and now 7 years later, he is being discriminated against by those who are deciding what is and what is not immoral. Time for Channel 9 to show a back bone and take a stand to back up their employee.
M B Andrews
Guest
It’s not Matt Johns who should be lynched. It’s Catherine Lumby. Associate Professor Catherine Lumby is the official sexual ethics consultant to the NRL. On ABC Radio's on 6 March, 2004, she preached her gospel of consent: CATHERINE LUMBY: I think that there's no problem with any behaviour which is consensual in sexual terms, many people would disagree with me. But if we're talking about rock stars having sex with a range of women they're not married to, people do not, generally speaking, think that's outrageous. Lumby's mistake was making the ethical framework to be all about "consent." But Matt Johns acted with consent. The New Zealand teenage acted with consent. They believed the Gospel of Consent and they are both, today, deeply damaged people. The only framework that works is personhood. The woman in the hotel is not a body who didn't say no. She's someone's daughter, girlfriend or sister. I don’t blame John’s so much. I blame Lumby. She’s given the guidelines to follow. And they lead to destroyed lives. Lumby should be fired. Not Johns.
joeb
Guest
On the 1:00pm 2GB news today they reported the NZ Police would NOT be reopening the Johns 2002 case, which implies the ABC 4Cs story added absolutely nothing new to the details already known to the NZ Constabulary when they first investigated, so really all 4Cs has to be proud of is that they've ruined this former footballer's reputation and income stream, dragged his name through the mud and all the rest of it because after all he and the NRL are the softest of soft targets for the country's "flagship" current affairs program to target and which they knew beforehand would boost their ratings because of the code's strong following. Actually a caller (Shaun again) to Brian Wilshire (2GB) last night just prior to the 11:00pm news made the very valid point, that since Johns or any of the other participants in the group sex romp were not charged and convicted of any wrong doing, Johns could turn around and sue Ch. Nine and the NRL for 'unfair dismissal'. We know he won't but it's a fair point. Also why won't the "victim" come clean, show herself and describe in numbing detail what actually did happen... is she mentally retarded? Lastly how did this 'group sex / bunning / gang bang' mentality infiltrate the player ranks of the NRL to begin with? Having followed league closely from the mid-'70s to the early to mid '90s i'm hard pressed to remember any such goings-on unless the ARL and NSWRFL officialdom of the day along with compliant journalists were far more adept at keeping such communal sexual behavioural matters completely screened from the public. The other thing is the judgement passed on Johns amounts to nothing more than outrageous 'trial by media'; whatever happened to the presumption of innocence until judged by one's peers in a court of the land? This bloke has done absolutely bloody nothing (regardless Annabel's, Miranda's and Tracy's stern comments last night and today). The hypocrits at Ch Nine in the recent past even aired a 'lifestyle' program during peak time that openly depicted and encouraged sexual experimentation including partner swapping and other sordid carry-on and then society wonders why stuff like this happens and yet is interpreted as 'normal' by those who engage in it...
Tom Alexander, QLD.
Guest
Anyone who thinks that those sex adds or any other adds for that matter which are on late at night every night doesn't have at the very least an accumulative affect on the consumer/public must be living in a cave, either that or the company's that pay out hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising around the world for no return are the dumbest people on the planet, of course they have an affect.
sledgeross
Guest
Hey Pete, did you ever sleep with anyone before you were married? As for the rest of your post, it makes absolutely no sense, can you explain it a bit better?
hemjay
Guest
now here's the cynical part. At the time NZ police said there wasn't a case to answer. Maybe this is because they were trying to cover up there own dirty sex romps or getting ideas for their next ones. It is now widely known about the Nz polices orges and mis-treatment of women maybe the sex culture in the Nz police led to this being swept under the carpet and a she'll be right mate she's a mouthy sheila who'll soon go away. Food for thought
hemjay
Guest
What Johns and his mates did is disgraceful and no man in his right mind could or should be justifying reasons to be supporting him. Should he be able to resurrect his career i don't know, i'm in two minds yes he deserves a second chance but then again is this just saying to Mat its ok mate take a year off relax. Not a good look for channel 9
Pete
Guest
Just want to clarify. I am a simple guy who represented AUS in the Olympic trials. My wife / partner of 16 yrs was also a representative. who made it We are just trying to draw parallels why it is accepted (AND I MEAN ACCEPTED)) in football circles that it is good to degrade women, or at least it is a bonding experience. Anyone out there want to point me to the journal that states - for a team to perfomn you must cunduct boderline / moralistic reprehensible acts. I am sure no one would say that to my wife, (maybe through fear of me) but they would never cross a border with me, they would say it to the weaker ones who follow them. End of day -JOHNS a scum. I am going to bed in the US, and I will make sure my own personal goal, that anyone who supporsts Johns does not get my support
joeb
Guest
oops - 'get out more' i meant Samuel.
joeb
Guest
"Joeb, can you clarify what you are talking about with the NSW police and Abe Saffron references, and what it has to do with this situation? I confess to being a wee bit lost…" that 'group sex' practice or 'gang banging' as they call it is endemic in various stratas of our society. Sam A, you've clearly lived a sheltered life and obviously need to 'get put more' ;-) It's even been known to exist among our legal professionals -- simply ask any legal eagles on the channel. Please read the section in 'Code of Silence' where Ms Ferguson interviews Roy Masters. As for the Abe Saffron / Cops / Politicians connection read 'Gentle Satan' by Abe's son Alan Saffron; it's pretty much all there.
sledgeross
Guest
Worlds Biggest, so you dont believe in second chances, and people should pay for their mistakes forever?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Sanity has prevailed, it was the only option. Why should he return next year to Ch 9 ?. How is that a good outcome. He should be punted permanently along with Fatty. BTW - where is the Matty Johns fan club today ?. " Matty is a champion, top bloke etc..."
sam a
Guest
I think Channel 9 and the Storm have done the right thing in standing him down, if only for the good of the game. While I like the guy - he seems decent enough - I strongly disagree with what he did (didn't do) by not stopping what was going on. If he saw fit to apologise after the fact to the girl, he must have known something was not right with the situation. Joeb, can you clarify what you are talking about with the NSW police and Abe Saffron references, and what it has to do with this situation? I confess to being a wee bit lost...
sledgeross
Guest
Matta, being honest I would deadset kill the bloke. But that wouldnt make it right, because I would not be looking at it from an unbiased viewpoint. Thats the point Im trying to make. The law doesnt always represent justice, and moral vigilantism doesnt always work.
Redb
Roar Guru
fair call Sledgeross.
sledgeross
Guest
That fine Redb, and I respect your opinion, but I tend to think kneejerk reactions can have more harm than good. Case in point, look at the reactions of people here. They are polarised. If people didnt get on their soapboxes and be so absolute, Im sure most people would agree that this unsavoury incident should have repercussions for the people involved. But when people start making moral rather than legal judgements, I think that is dangerous. Im no angel, but then again I dont think Ive ruined a persons life either. Its a tough one, no doubt about it.
matta
Guest
sorry 2nd to last post was in reply to Jo
matta
Guest
Sledge...if it were your daughter? ask yourself that and answer that honestly..
matta
Guest
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.
Redb
Roar Guru
Sledgeross, Couldn't disagree more on Johns - his action and lack of action was disgraceful as a man. Redb