NRL great Andrew Johns quits his brother Matthew’s radio show as pair’s Origin feud
NRL Immortal Andrew Johns has dramatically quit the SEN radio network as the fallout from his on-air feud with brother Matthew Johns continues to fester.
The footy siblings – who often don’t see eye to eye – have failed to patch up their differences following a heated on-air debate ahead of the State of Origin series opener last month.
Fox Sports identity Matthew Johns, who hosts the Morning Glory program each Friday, praised the coaching abilities of Queensland mentor Billy Slater, which got under his younger brother’s skin.
Andrew Johns is also a member of the NSW Blues coaching staff.
SEN station boss Craig Hutchison was confident the siblings would soon be on the same page – possibly once the Origin series is finished – but it is believed a fired up Andrew Johns has declared he won’t be back on the airwaves in 2023.
NRL Immortal Andrew Johns (pictured with partner Kate Kendall) has dramatically quit the SEN radio network as the fallout from his on-air feud with brother Matthew Johns continues to fester
The footy siblings – who often don’t see eye to eye – have failed to patch up their differences following a rigorous on-air debate ahead of the State of Origin series opener on May 31 (Matthew Johns is pictured with wife Trish)
On June 9 – for the second successive week – Andrew failed to show at SEN’s Walker St studios in North Sydney.
Matthew Johns stated in the lead up ‘I’m just going to leave the studio door open,’ and if ‘he walks through the doors at one minute to nine then he does, if he doesn’t we will just have to make do.’
Johns and respected sports journalist Andrew Webster then failed to address the elephant in the room.
Matthew’s comments on Slater incensed young brother Andrew, who is as passionate as they come when it comes to the Blues.
‘Mate, I’m sick of you rapping Queensland, that’s what I’m sick of,’ Andrew, who is widely regarded as the Blues’ best ever player, fumed on live radio last month.
‘Put your Maroon jersey on, you should have some at home.
‘Just because you played four games and lost all four doesn’t mean you need to s**t bag NSW.’
Matty Johns’ recent comments on Queensland’s ability to own big moments in Origin and the rise of Billy Slater as Maroons head coach infuriated his younger brother Andrew (pictured)
Andrew Johns (pictured right) is as passionate as they come when it comes to the Blues, where he is also on the coaching staff
The Maroons delivered yet again in the Origin arena, storming home to beat the Blues 26-18 in the 2023 series opener in Adelaide
Earlier this month, Matthew Johns confirmed the former NSW Blues halfback still wasn’t prepared to smoke the peace pipe.
‘Houston we have a problem, it’s official my brother is completely off me,’ Matty told listeners.
‘There were rumours he might not come. I thought the last three weeks of him not returning phone calls was laziness.
‘He is off me. This is nothing new for me and Joey (Andrew). We were forced to share a bedroom for 19 years.
‘We’ve had a fill of each other. Every six months we have a blue like this.’
While Matthew’s Origin career was relatively short, his brother played 23 times for the Blues, including a legendary man-of-the-match performance in Game Two of the 2005 series.
The pair have often clashed over the years, with most of their run-ins good natured.
Matty Johns had an incredible career in the NRL – but Andrew was quick to recently point out he lost all four Origin games he played
In contrast, Andrew Johns is considered by many footy fans to be the Blues’ greatest ever player
Last July, Matthew used a radio debate about State of Origin as an opportunity to take a savage swipe at his brother over his love life.
The NSW side is known for dropping stars from their team with regularity – often when fans think they don’t deserve to be shown the door – whereas Queensland are regarded as showing more loyalty to their players.
Matty used Andrew – who is in his third long-term relationship – to sum up the Blues’ selection process.
‘It’s very NSW. I want people to know….be extremely concerned. Don’t marry anyone from NSW because we fall in love with new acquaintances very easily,’ he said on SEN.
‘What you do, is you just get rid of them. Just bring someone else in.
‘I mean, the best example is our best ever player, Andrew Johns, I think he’s onto his third wife.’