Andrew Johns's success as a halves coach has everyone guessing when he will be the boss, writes Greg Prichard
Andrew Johns has been coaching, in a specialist capacity, for three months - but the jury has already returned its verdict on whether he could cut it as a head coach. The result is a resounding yes.
The question that remains is whether Joey would want to take that responsibility. He has always said he wouldn't - but he wouldn't be the first to change his mind.
Those with whom Johns is working in his new role would not be surprised if he yearned for more.
Johns - whose life took a dramatic turn last year with his injury-forced retirement followed by admissions of drug and drinking problems and the revelation he had bipolar disorder - began working with five-eighths, halfbacks and hookers at Parramatta on December 4. He then took on similar roles at Newcastle and the Bulldogs.
It is probably no coincidence that the three coaches who employ Johns - Michael Hagan, Brian Smith and Steve Folkes - are all established and successful. Younger, less experienced coaches might feel insecure about having a living legend on their coaching staff, although Smith says: "If you've got a hang-up about that sort of thing, then you shouldn't be doing the job. Everyone has got to rely on other people with expertise."
Johns, the former Newcastle, NSW and Australia halfback and captain, may be a rookie in terms of his coaching, but his influence is growing. Eels coach Hagan had worked with Johns in a coach-player relationship at Newcastle for six years from 2001, and allowed Johns to have a big influence there.
At Parramatta, the boundaries of Joey's involvement have already expanded to give him control an entire session - under Hagan's watch - once a week.
Parramatta five-eighth Brett Finch has been around, but he sounds like an excited rookie when he talks about working with Johns.
"His influence is enormous," Finch says. "His knowledge is unbelievable. I'm sure that, when I get the chance to show it, I'm going to look like a better player through working with him."
The Knights rookie halfback Scott Dureau says: "His coaching has been second to none. It's been fantastic for me. Joey's understanding of the game is the best I've ever seen."
Johns is not trying to reinvent the wheel. He's just good at what he does.
He drills the ballplayers on which lines to run, which plays to use, how to hold their body shape, which kicks to use in certain areas, what to do when the play-the-balls are fast and when they're slow. Then he takes the rest of the team and explains what he has instructed the playmakers to do and how they should react. It helps their decision-making, which Johns was always best at as a player.
There have been goalkicking coaches, such as Daryl Halligan, for years, so why not a specialist coach of halves and hookers? It makes sense.
"He's really enjoying it," Matthew Johns says of his brother. "The fire in the belly doesn't suddenly go out when you retire. He's got so many ideas on the game, and you need somewhere to funnel those."
Matthew may be best known now as a television star, but he also made a name as a specialist coach at Melbourne, where he helped halfback Cooper Cronk.
"The difference between the best players and the ones who are just pretty good is only slight," Matthew says. "The subtleties are the only difference, but for a head coach that sort of specialist stuff is difficult because he's got so much else on his plate. Bringing someone in like Joey, who can cover that, makes a big, big difference to a team."
Hagan says Johns is a good communicator. "Joey gets his point across really well," Hagan says. "And the players respond to him exactly as you would hope."
Johns takes part in video sessions at Parramatta. And he can be seen standing alongside Smith during ballwork sessions at Newcastle, chipping in with his thoughts.
"A lot of guys in footy know when something works, but they don't know how or why," Smith says. "He knows how and why, and he can communicate that to the players."
Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes invited Johns to watch the team in its final trial game against Penrith last Sunday then had him talk about it at training on Tuesday. "Joey tailors his individual coaching to fall into line with the structure we're using," Folkes says. "Then he puts on his unique touches as a great halfback. It's working well."
Johns is a few days shy of clocking up 100 in the coaching business. Somewhere down the track, he will be tempted to become a head coach. He may have been adamant a head coach's hat was not for his head, but so was Brad Fittler.
"It wasn't until I finished playing that I thought seriously about whether I wanted to be a coach," Fittler says. "I decided it was the job I was best equipped to do, so I warmed to it. Joey is putting his toe in the water."
Everyone the Herald spoke to said there was no question of whether Johns had the ability to be a head coach. His club and representative teammate Danny Buderus said Johns had a "great coach's mind". Hagan said stepping up "wouldn't be a problem". Finch said Johns would "do it on his ear". But Johns had to decide whether it was for him. So, for a while, the question remains: Will he or won't he?
Hagan says Johns would want to continue to be challenged. Buderus says Joey is enjoying it and might want to take it further. Matthew says his brother is a "big enough boy" to handle the aspects of a coach's job that has turned him off it in the past.
"He's certainly got the right temperament for coaching," Matthew laughs. "Coaches are three parts crazy, so he's nine-tenths of the way there. The madder you are, the better you go. He could win six or seven premierships in a row." 
