Newcastle great Andrew Johns rescued the Knights countless times in his celebrated 15-year NRL career and has been called upon again to produce another resuscitation effort on the struggling club.
The rugby league Immortal has been approached by the Knights to work as an assistant coach from next year as they attempt to rebuild following the departure of supercoach Wayne Bennett to Brisbane at season’s end.
Former Knights coach Rick Stone remains the frontrunner to take over the top job again, but Johns would undoubtedly be a crucial addition to the coaching set-up.
The former Knights skipper and two-time premiership winner has achieved great success working as a halves coach at premiership leaders Manly with superstar duo Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran, and could do likewise with Jarrod Mullen and Tyrone Roberts at Newcastle.
He has also previously worked as a NSW assistant coach.
With Mullen sidelined alongside Darius Boyd, James McManus, Akuila Uate and Chris Houston, the Knights were flogged 50-10 by South Sydney in Cairns on Sunday to continue a poor season and without any big-name signings for next year they could struggle again.
Knights management has signalled their intention to return to a greater community involvement with the club on the back of Nathan Tinkler’s exit, and Johns would fit the bill.
Johns’ brother Matthew said on his Triple M radio show on Sunday that the man they call ‘Joey’ could continue his 249-game connection with the club in a coaching capacity.
“From what I understand, there has been an approach to structure their attacking, some of their attacking stuff but I don’t know if he’ll go,” Matthew Johns said.
“He has got a young family and he is loving his time (at Manly).
“Newcastle are keen for him to come back and do some stuff if he has the time.”
Knights skipper Kurt Gidley refused to enter into speculation about Johns’ possible return.
“I’m not going to comment on what coaches might be coming to the club next year,” he told the post-game press conference in Cairns.
The Knights’ loss leaves them two points clear of last-placed Cronulla on 16 points with five regular season games to go.
Souths’ win put them into second place on 28 points ahead of Penrith on for-and-against.
Wearing a Marvel Comics Superhero themed jersey on Friday night as part of a round-21 promotion, the ‘Wolverine’ Sea Eagles – in paying homage to superstar supporter Hugh Jackman – kept top spot on the NRL ladder.
With a hard-fought 16-4 win over Brisbane at Brookvale Oval, the Sea Eagles are two wins ahead of Souths and Penrith.
Across town, Penrith defeated an out-of-form Canterbury 22-16 but look to have lost Bryce Cartwright, Elijah Taylor and Brent Kite for the season in a mounting injury toll.
The loss drops Canterbury to fifth.
On Saturday, Jarryd Hayne ruled Remondis Stadium as Parramatta defeated Cronulla 32-12 to keep the Eels’ finals hopes alive.
Sixth-placed North Queensland beat the Gold Coast 28-8 in Townsville with representative prop Matt Scott starring after two months out with a cheekbone injury.
NSW centre Michael Jennings stood out for the fourth-placed Sydney Roosters in his return after a month on the sidelines with a back injury in scoring two tries in the premiers’ 30-22 defeat of St George Illawarra at Allianz Stadium.
The seventh-placed Warriors hammered a hapless Canberra in the nation’s capital on Sunday 54-18 to put further pressure on Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
On Monday night, the embattled Wests Tigers host eighth-placed Melbourne at Campbelltown Stadium in the tribute match for injured former Tigers forward Simon Dwyer.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
No. I never went anywhere near that subject.
George
Guest
Joey isn't coach material in my eye. I can see him being very useful for short campaigns, but not dealing with all the crap that a top flight coach would need to. He currently earns heaps in the media, which is a cosy gig compared to the constant troubles of a coach.
millsy of perth
Guest
Surprised he was given the title of immortal but better experts than me gives plenty of credit, as for coaching I'm sure he would give it all he's got as he did with hid football career it will be his choice and good luck to him if he wants to go down that path he doesn't need to prove anything really
Emcie
Roar Guru
It reminds me a bit of when people in Brisbane were talking up Lockyer to be the next Broncos coach after he retired. It would have been a huge mistake, the expectations would have been unrealistic and the club would just end up dragging the name of one of its hero's through the mud if there wasn't immediate success.
Johnno
Guest
Sideline Comm are you implying people are jealous of Joey the immortal lol, please. The bloke doesn't deserve that title, no way.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Sorry mate, I was actually replying to Dallas. But I agree, Newcastle is definitely where he should start if he wants to pursue a coaching career. He's obviously is good at what he knows and I'm sure the supporters would love to have him at the club in some capacity.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
No I agree, don't get me wrong. That's why I just said this is an important step. I think he will be head coach at Newcastle, no so much because he is a good coach, but because it's Newcastle and he is Andrew Johns. At the moment I don't think he has the man managing skills to be a head coach, and he knows it. I don't think he'll be ready for years, if ever, but it does seem like he is trying to groom himself for the spot. Goes from part-time skills consolation, to full time halves consultation, to assistant, then to assistant at Newcastle...
Emcie
Roar Guru
Mate, no offence, but you could apply everything you just said to Ricky Stewart. Personally, I think Joey would be much more effective in a consultancy role training the halves then as head coach. He has shown in the past that he doesn't cope too well with the negative media scrutiny or public backlash that head coaches have to deal with. There's also a big difference between analyzing and effective game plan and creating one. Being an assistant coach or a halves consultant would allow Joey to focus on his strengths without exposing his weaknesses, especially with a team without any standout superstars like Newcastle
Cass
Guest
What a ridiculous post Sideline Comm - of course I don't have any authority and neither do you. I have an opinion to which I am entitled. Of course Cherry-Evans and Foran said he has helped them why wouldn't they. That still doesn't mean he can do anything with players of much lesser talent. That's my opinion. Get over the "Poor Joey" bit and see that my main issue is stop trying to make "coaches" into miracle workers, they work with the talent they have and its pretty basic- some players are simply better than others and no amount of coaching can change that. Newcastle needs some new talent. Mullen is simply not consistent enough and never has been. He is as good as he can be. Whilst Foran and Cherry-Evans were always going to be great no matter who coached them. And personally I don't hate Andrew Johns so don't put words into my mouth please. I just don't think he would make a good Head coach. And I am not going by the misdeeds of "the past" I am going on Joey's personality type to which Joey himself openly admits, would not suit the role requirements.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Ridiculous post. Both of the Manly halves have said that Andrew Johns has greatly improved their game. On what authority do you claim that their success has little to do with Johns, that is impossible to know. I'm not going to get into the argument of Andrew John, there is no point. People are always going to hate him, justified or not, and posting here isn't going to convince anyone. I would just say that it is incredibly unfair to base a man's professional ability on unrelated (yes, unrelated to the game) misdeeds of the past. All the evidence points to the fact that Andrew Johns is a very different man to the Joey of yesteryear. People change, and Johns has the mind to be a tactically great coach. Whether he is a man manager is another question, as is whether or not he wants to be. I don't think he has ever publicly aspired to be a head coach, but if he chose to in the future, I think he could be very successful.
Cass
Guest
"Achieved great success working with Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran, and could do likewise with Jarrod Mullen and Tyrone Roberts at Newcastle" - Are you kidding me. The Manly halves pairing are two of the most talented footballers of their generation (and no I'm not a Manly fan) To compare them to Tyrone Roberts and Jarrod Mullen is ridiculous and unfair. Mullen is a good footballer but after all these years has shown that he will never be great and Tyrone Roberts while still only young doesn't stand out above the pack. Foran and Cherry-Evans' success has had very little to do with Andrew Johns - What they have is natural ability and maturity beyond their years. That is the formula to their success. Joey being Head Coach anywhere is a scary prospect for the game - Sorry but he well and truly earnt his reputation and he should not be in control of young men's futures. He doesn't have the personality for it.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
He has an amazing football brain. His coaching skills, particularly with the halves, would be invaluable for the Newcastle club, and it is where he belongs. I honestly think he would relish being back with Newcastle. I think he will be head coach there one day, and this is an important step towards that,.
dallas
Guest
Every one knows how good of a player joey was, but also if you listen to the things he says during commentary and they way he breaks down plays and team structures and what not - he is a rugby league genius, he is so knowledgeable. And he also played the game at such high intensity i think he would make a great coach. He makes out to be a bit of a larrikin on the footy show and such but behind that facade he is a competitor with a huge knowledge for the game, probably more so than any one else.
Johnno
Guest
No