Why Johns said no

[Philhawk]

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20699171-5006066,00.html

Why Johns said no

By David Riccio

November 05, 2006 12:00
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MATTHEW Johns has knocked back a lucrative offer to join Chris Anderson at the Roosters for one reason - Greg Inglis.

Johns, who has been aligned with the Storm since the start of last season, didn't want to miss out on the chance to help develop the wonderfully talented teenager. "How many times in your life do you get to work with a Mal Meninga in your career,'' Johns said.

"Inglis has the ability to take the game to a whole new level. The athleticism he's got ... he's something else. He's on the way up and what coach wouldn't want to be a part of that.''


Johns' private tuition of Storm halfback Cooper Cronk this season has opened the eyes of the rugby league world to his coaching potential. But Johns was surprised that the Roosters offered him a position as an assistant to new coach Anderson next season.

"When I was approached it was very flattering,'' Johns said. "They're a club I have so much respect for. I really thought about joining them. It was tempting to join Opes (Anderson) because I know how much improvement is in the Roosters.

"Opes is that sort of coach that he'll really stimulate them and bring out their best. There's no doubt at all. But when Melbourne didn't win the grand final, it didn't feel right leaving. I told Nick Politis that I have great respect for (Melbourne coach) Craig Bellamy.

"Plus, Melbourne have got another batch of good young players, along with Inglis, coming through. So for me to break that bond and go to the Roosters wouldn't be right.''

Bellamy considers Johns' decision to stick with the Storm as a coup for the club. "It's nice to see that loyalty still exists,'' Bellamy said. "It would have been pretty easy for him to leave.

"The Roosters are in Sydney where he lives and he has a good relationship with Chris Anderson. There were plenty of positives to go with the Roosters and I'm sure he could have earned a lot more money, too.''

Bellamy said Johns would be a key figure in moulding the game's greatest strike weapon, Inglis, into a five-eighth next season. "He was a huge help to Cooper Cronk and all our halves this year,'' he said. "There's no doubt he was the biggest influence on Cooper this year.

"He's a huge help to the young guys at the club and obviously he'll offer Greg plenty of advice throughout the season.'' Johns is in no doubt that Inglis can alter his game to be an outstanding No6.

"The thing that has struck me with Inglis is that he's an amazing ball runner but he's also a very good ball player as well,'' Johns said. "His feet and his movement put him in good positions to put people away.

"I've got no doubt that if Craig makes a decision to put him in the six jersey, he'll be a success. He'll bring his own style to the position ... one I'm looking forward to seeing develop.''

Wonderful news. Not only is Matty Johns a wonderful coach and mentor in his own right, he'll be able to pass on this experience to both Cronk (again) and our new 5/8th (be it Inglis, Aubusson, Aitken - whoever) next year.

Great to see loyalty exist in some shape and form in this game still.

 

[Calthorpe14]

I think he just had to look at what he had to work with at the Roosters, and then what was available with the storm and his decision became straight forward.

 

[Hicham]

After Ricky's coaching performance the other night, who could blame him?

What's the point of giving special halves tuition to a bloke like, say, Jamie Soward, only to see him get switched to prop because the fullback got injured...