Long before my music blogger days, I was a player of 10 years and ran my own rugby league site for two of those years. Now while I did play in the toughest first division comp junior rugby league has to offer (Penrith), I was by no means a star... far from it. Just recently I have assumed the role of trainer for another rugby league side. Despite not playing for the past 2 years, you never want to give away that dream until one day reality hits you. Much like it did for Andrew Johns.
Before I go on, I ask you leave your opinions of Newcastle and Andrew Johns out of this and appreciate that regardless of being the greatest or one of the greatest, Andrew Johns was a true competitor in every aspect.
As many astute anaylsts of the game have said "Andrew Johns was the first complete footballer". Possessing a wicked side step, a mind for the game like no other, air tight kicking game and a monster in defence, Andrew Johns could literally do it all. I don't think until I saw Andrew at a live game, where my eyes could go not only where the camera was, only then did I truely believe he was, the greatest.
Here's my little story: Easter Sunday (4-5 years ago) and the Newcastle Knights were hosting the in form Cronulla Sharks lead by the freakish David Peachey. The Knights were down and in need of a miracle, defending 20m out from their line, I spot Joey purposefully shuffle his way across the line on the second tackle and loud enough to be heard from the sideline instruct Justin "The knight" Ryder to drop back as they were going to kick to his wing. Now the Sharks were working the ball to the other side of the field until five eight Adam Dykes employed a switch play and kicked the ball straight down the throat of an expectant Ryder on the third tackle. What the Channel 9 commentators would have applauded as great vision from the winger was in actual fact, astute leadership from the greatest reader of the game, Andrew Johns.
Now you'll have to take my word for it on that one, but even on camera, there is no shortage of obvious displays of brilliance where Johns has completely commanded a game in the palm of his hand and changed the entire outcome. Look no further than his State of Origin comeback which lifted NSW from an almost certain white wash. Brett Kimmorley was never going to save us.
Now don't let my age fool you, I've seen the wonders of Sterling, Lewis, Fittler, Mortimer, Kenny, Stuart, Raper and so on, but no one apart from possibly Wally Lewis could impact on a game like Andrew Johns. Even more so you could not say Wally Lewis possessed a refined skill for every aspect of the game like Andrew Johns. Hell I reckon give Joey some pom poms and he'd show Jennifer Hawkins how to cheer lead (I wouldn't tap Joey though).
Now it's no surprise I am a Newcastle Knights fan, I'll openly admit that, but I'll be the first to tell you I think the Gidley's are overpaid, Maddog is too old, Kennedy should never have left, our ground is crap and we never sign the right players. I prefer Steve Simpson over Johns any day personally. But you just like me, cannot deny he was something that had to be seen to be believed. Sadly his career was ravaged by injury which didn't allow him the time on the field he deserved and it's just a shame he could not do it under his own terms.
But if we are going to be honest, Newcastle wasn't a one man team. The NRL was a one man competition. Andrew Johns, one of the finest whiteboy's with the worst dance moves, whiteboydancefloor salutes you. I don't rule out the coming of a second messiah, but I don't think Inglis, Sonny Bill Williams or Gasnier are it.
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On a more exciting note, The whiteboydancefloor myspace page has some exclusive content which this blog doesn't! Foxy new whiteboydancefloor member Jess who is soon to be apart of the fold once Dean has settled in has done a fantastic review of Soundwave which will be posted as a blog for you all to read on myspace. Feel free to comment away, we love to hear from whiteboydancefloor readers, myspace I must admit is good like that.
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