NRL five-eighth Cooper Johns has announced that he is to step away from rugby league – and take up a job with Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O on Sydney radio.
The player posted the news on his Instagram account and appeared on the Kyle and Jackie O show this morning to confirm his decision.
He had been without an NRL deal since his Manly contract expired at the end of last year and described his move away from the game as for ‘a bit’.
“We’re not sure what he does yet but we’ve just secured his services,” said Sandilands.
“The reason why we got Coops is because I thought he’s very, very good. We were paranoid and thought ‘we’ve got to secure this guy’.”
Johns himself added “Nobody really knew what I was doing and I don’t actually know what I’m doing either” on the show, but in his social media post, detailed the revelation that he had on holiday at the end of the 2023 NRL season.
Johns is known for his humour – he anointed himself MVP of last year’s Pre-Season Challenge – and posted in a typically self-deprecating style and tagging the likes of Harry Grant, Cam Munster, Brandon Smith and Tyran Wishart from his time at the Melbourne Storm as well as Sea Eagles centre Brad Parker – as well as former coach Craig Bellamy and famous father and uncle, Matty and Andrew Johns.
“Loved my time in the @nrl but after some late nights pondering over a couple of schooners of Malibu and coke no sugar I’ve decided to step away for a bit and switch out the leather pig skin for a microphone,” he wrote.
“Never in my days would I have expected such an outpouring of sorrow, grief and emotion. But in all seriousness I’ll never forget the lifetime friends I’ve made & the ones I hope I never see again (@bradparker04 @harrrygrantt & @tyranwishart) just to name a few.
“The memories…so many to pick from… first game… first try…first offseason scandal shoutout to @munster94 @hecticcheese.
“And finally to all my coaches particularly Craig Bellamy …who refused to select me regardless of mediocre form and numerous bribes, don’t expect a reference when you’re looking for another club to drag through the mud.
“And finally to my family, who cause me nothing but stress… get f****d. Is this the end who knows…one thing I do know is rugby league is the greatest game of all.”
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
I would have given my left one to play 11 NRL games for the Storm, good on him.
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
Probably the best move for him. He clearly couldn't cut it in first grade and from his comments, it looks like he blames everyone else but himself. Having a famous father will get you a start but then you have to deliver.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I remember a Storm game Ray Warren called, really early in Slater's career, where he called Billy a jockey and spent most of the match saying he was too small for the NRL. Ray made a bit of a habit of getting things wr0ong.
KCR
Roar Rookie
Kyle and Jackie O are Sydney based DJs.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
He could be the Saints version of Woodsy at Manly. A media star who puts the jumper on now and again but generally just flops about the place making jokes,
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
W.T.F!
Panthers
Roar Rookie
He would have liked to be as good a player as Gidley. As would his father.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yes, these ex players should be nominating for the next federal election so we can insulate them from real people.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Is this the new "gone to Japanese rugby"?
Nat
Roar Guru
Good luck to him but isn’t that radio a pop princess type show? Johns is funny because we footy boofheads get the reference to his family and league. “Dad why do I look like Kurt Gidley “ may not resonate as well to the 16yo set.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Some players like Slater start off too small but build up yet others never seem to get bigger.
Bernie
Roar Rookie
i'm actually happy about this news, because it means the dragons haven't signed him.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Well he is big and a thing.. I guess that’s part of the equation. Maybe he could go to Fox as a Michael Ennis translator
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
"Unless they are a future immortal i wouldn’t risk it" I think you're right about the future of small players but the problem is, you have to risk it to see if you might have a future immortal on your hands.
the outsider
Roar Rookie
Sadly, i don't think small halves are a sustainable asset anymore. I personally think Jayden Campbell is too small in 2024 for NRL. Smalls are too injury prone and make their own defensive line nervous, which leads to mistakes. Unless they are a future immortal i wouldn't risk it
eagleJack
Roar Guru
That's actually the line I laughed the most at. The constant sledging between father, son & uncle is great. Never take yourself too seriously.
Bernie
Roar Rookie
yes, i bet his grandmother is re-tuning her radio now to Krud & Jockey.
Bernie
Roar Rookie
i would think Sharons Headband will be shattered - doesn't he fancy himself as the next big thing in media?
Bernie
Roar Rookie
well i can't recall ever seeing him play on TV, and i certainly wont be listening to him if he has anything to do with the frightful Sandyhands, so i guess Cooper will just f-f-f-fade away from my life.