𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐖𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑: 𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐑𝐋 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 (𝐍𝐨. 𝟕). 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 “𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐲” 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐜…..𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐖𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑: 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 “𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐲” 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞

In a moment that has sent shockwaves of joy through the Valley and the broader NRL community, Newcastle Knights head coach Justin Holbrook has officially confirmed that former legendary halfback Andrew “Joey” Johns is returning to the club — this time not as a player, but as part of the Knights’ senior coaching setup.

The announcement has been met with overwhelming excitement from Knights supporters, many of whom regard Johns as the greatest player in the club’s history. A two-time Dally M Medalist, premiership winner, and iconic No.7, Johns’ return represents far more than a coaching appointment — it signals a powerful reconnection with the club’s proud identity and winning culture.

Speaking on the announcement, Holbrook described the move as “a huge boost” for the playing group and the club as a whole.

“Joey’s understanding of the game, particularly around game management and halves play, is second to none,” Holbrook said. “His presence, experience, and passion for this club will be invaluable for our players.”

Johns is expected to take on a senior mentoring and specialist coaching role, working closely with the Knights’ halves and spine players. Insiders suggest his focus will be on decision-making, game control, and mental composure — areas where he excelled throughout his illustrious playing career.

The reaction from fans was immediate and emotional. Social media erupted with messages celebrating the return of a true club icon, with many calling it “the best news possible” and a turning point for the Knights’ future. Former teammates and NRL legends also welcomed the move, praising the club for bringing back someone who truly understands what it means to wear the Newcastle jersey.

Within the playing group, excitement is said to be sky-high. Younger players are eager to learn from a rugby league mastermind, while senior figures see Johns’ involvement as a major step toward building consistency and belief.