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Article:
Johns, the ultimate code breaker
By Rupert Guinness
June 18, 2005
FORMER Waratahs coach Bob Dwyer and and former captain Matt Burke have lauded Origin II rugby league star Andrew Johns as the greatest player of either code.
Speaking after yesterday’s launch in Sydney of Burke’s biography: A Rugby Life, both said Johns’ game in Wednesday’s Origin series leveller questioned the Australian Rugby Union’s wisdom for not pushing for Johns’ switch from league last year.
“Everyone says they got happier and happier and the game went on,” said Dwyer, referring to praise Johns earned for his gilted performance.
“I just got sicker and sicker as the game went on just thinking of what might’ve been. I felt like sending message [to Johns] saying it is not too late to change, but I couldn’t get through.”
Dwyer said he always felt Johns would have been an instant success to rugby. “With his attitude, personal drive and search for excellence and general motivation, he would have improved the training sessions immediately,” said Dwyer, adding that he predicted to Johns that he would end up coaching the Waratah backline as a player.
"He said: ‘how do you reckon I’ll go?’ I said: 'in three months you will be coaching the backline.
“He understands what the confrontation between attack and defence. There are great players and really great players. He is really great. And it doesn’t make a difference [which code].”
Burke, who now plays for the Newcastle Falcons alongside side English World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson, said Johns was the talk of both codes in England.
“They watch him. Jonny, he talks about Joey all the time,” said Burke. "His ability to not pass, not forward pass and hold a man and pass a long pass which is a difficult pass when you are not planting. It rubs off.
“When you are the world’s best, people try to emulate you no matter what code you are in.”
Burke was at Telstra Stadium watching Origin II. He said seeing Johns lead the Blues - setting up all of NSW’s five tries - silenced every critic that may have remained.
“If there was any doubt about his ability to play the game they got put in their place,” he said.
"Whether he was a loss to rugby? That’s only a question Andrew can ask in terms of: ‘were you really going to come across or was rugby league still in the forefront of your mind?’
"Perhaps [he] was the one that got away. You’ll never know. But if he had of come across he would have been able to make it.
“Absolutely. He would have made it easily.”
Burke said with Johns, even while in league, offered union players a lot to learn from with his rich skills and vision.
The Daily Telegraph