KEY POINTS:
Australian great Andrew Johns has retired as he risked a "catastrophic" spinal injury by playing on.
The former NSW and Australian captain - regarded as one of the game's greatest players - said the risks in continuing his remarkable 15-year career were too great.
Here are your views on this great player:
Julz
Having recently migrated to Australia, and no matter where you are if you love the game of league, you will no doubt miss the presence of Johns, whether you were a knights supporter or not. His uncanny ability to read plays and just manage to break the defence, NSW will miss Johns, the knights will miss Johns and no doubt the game as a whole will miss him, I know I will.
Kent
I think Andrew Johns broken jaw a couple of years ago summed up the man. Before he broke his jaw, the Knights won every game. When he was off with the broken jaw, the knights lost every game, including against the bunnies. When he returned, they won every game again. No other player in history can match such a feat. He was 13 men wrapped up into one. His team mates just needed to be there to applaud him and stand by the opponents try line and wait for him to kick the ball into their arms.
Lillyanne Soweto
Johns was a very great player I've ever watched. He's been a titanic boy in rugby league. Papua New Guineanians will really miss our golden boy with magic feet, that's what we describe him, espeacilly NSW supporters. When Johns is in the field for all State of Origin games,I knew that NSW will win. He is a best goal kicker as well as Hezel El Masari.No Australian Players are like Johns. We gonna miss our favourite player.He is a clean, good thinker and hard bloc to watch when in the field. I cried because he is my favourite player and I like watching him play a good game but now I won't sit in front of the television because I won't see him. On behalf of Papua New Guineanians,I would like to wish him all best and May the Bless you and get well soon.
Richard
Johns was by far the best player in the modern era. His track record says it all. He was a one club player an actually one of few players that had passion for the game an never let himself be bigger than the game itself. He is huge loss. I wish him all the best.
Etienne Tapueluelu
One of the saddest things about Andrew Johns' untimely retirement is that we New Zealanders will never get to see him play behind a kiwis forward pack in the All Golds tour in October. He's still the best I have ever seen though!
JK
Andrew "Joey" Johns, what a player! Like all great players it must end sometime and it is a shame that you didn't get to go on your own terms but you can look back on a career that no-one in the history of the game can match.It would be unfair to compare Joey to every player in the history of the game, but it would be fair to say that he was the greatest player of his generation. Good luck to you Joey, you have been a pleasure to watch (and Boo when watching the Anzac day tests of the past). You are a legend.
Paul Argus
Andrew Johns is hands down the most complete player in the history of the game. While there will always be debate over whether he was the best ever given the ongoing improvements in technology and training aiding the modern player, most would agree that his skill set was more complete than any other before him. People mention Alan Langer who was also a legend but he didnt kick goals and didnt have a strong long kicking game. I'd also argue the Bronco's didnt rely on Langer anywhere near as much as the Knights relied on Johns. The way Johns came back from a broken jaw in 2005 to guide the Blues to Origin victory will go down as one of the most complete performances ever - on a par with Daniel Carters 2nd test performance against the Lions. I'm sure the networks will be clambering to sign him up on a long-term deal so at least we'll still see him in a role similar to the one his brother now plays. Thanks for the memories Joey.
Peter
I was really looking forward to seeing him play with the kiwis this year (All Golds) - you're a legend Joey, he'll be missed on the field but he's made the right choice. As a player he has nothing left to prove... but gee it would've been awesome to see him behind a kiwi pack. I hope the NZRL give him a kiwi jersey anyway!
Santana Baldwin
What a player, All the talent in the world, so much class the greatest of all time, its been a pleasure watching him and following his career since 1993,He made the right decision and like all fans wish him the best for whatever he decides to do in the future. Best of luck Joey, its been a true honour, privilege and pleasure to have witnessed such greatness.
Jason
When a guy like Stacy Jones says Johns was the best he'd ever played against, well he must be pretty good. Stacy's actually quoted as calling him a freak he was so good. Anyone who knows the game knows he's excellent.
Mike
Andrew Johns was the greatest player in either rugby codes, one of the legends of the modern game of rugby league, the greatest point scorer. He will be missed.
Lisa
Andrew Johns was my partners idol. He is grown up admiring Andrew Johns. He doesnt miss one Knights game!! When the news came through last night on the news, I sat there and watched him cry!
Qais Hussein
Greatest player of all time. beside Alan Langer.
Reece Palmer
He was a great player, as a halfback I personally rated Alfie Langer higher, but his stats do the talking for him.
Moheka Williams
Andrew Johns, you are a legend, your commitment to the game of Rugby League is unquestioned. As a supporter of Kiwi Rugby League, it will be a shame not to see you in the green and gold strip of your country mate. There will be opportunities mate to help the development of the game, and I couldn't see a better ambassador for the game. Many games have been won off your pass or your boot, and many times you have broken my heart by either beating the Warriors or the Kiwis with your boot and passing. Good on ya mate, nothing is more important than your own health, I wait to see what Joey does next, no doubt it will be spectacular. Maybe lessons could be learnt from one of our own sporting heroes, Jonah Lomu, that life can carry on from your respective sporting careers, you were both legends in your respective codes, aroha nui to you mate.
Aidan Karatau
He was such a great player there are so many great memories he gave us. Two championships.. greatest point scorer. He wasn't the most athletic player but he made up for it with a great work ethic and passion for the game. I had heard from some of the Warriors player how they spent so much time at trainings trying to contain him, now if you have every team in the NRL doing that week in and week out that makes what he has done over his career even more amazing. He had a knowledge of the game that I think all young players should aspire to which is why it was such an honour for him to play in the Golden tests. I think the whole of New Zealand really missed out on something really special. Some people don't realise that he also introduced the Banana kick to League which made its way to Union (Thanks Carlos)
I think the best way to measure the mans greatness is to look at the Knights record with and without him on the field, while they have been a good team they were a whole different team with him out there.
So from his biggest fan from NZ.. We will miss you Joey and there will never be another player like you! Kia Kaha.
Chris Murphy
Andrew Johns was the greatest player I have seen in either rugby code...his ability to control a game and lift a side with his sheer presence was phenomenal. He was a 'complete' player, as he was able to do everything in a game, including defend, which many playmakers are guilty of not being able to do...I can still remember him putting huge hits on props a lot bigger than himself at NRL, State of origin and test level. He made a lot of the basic stuff like catch and pass look magical - it was all in the timing and his ability to read the game. His option taking was second to none and his personal points stats say it all. He was also a big game player, and although blighted with injuries in the last few years he could produce the goods when it mattered...he will be missed by footy fans the world over!
Mark
Hands down one of the legends of the modern game and if he switched code would rewrite the way in which union would be played in the halves and first five. Im extremely disappointed he wont play for the AllGolds as that would of been outstanding. The way he defends is underated and the way he uses the cutout pass and short balls is brilliant, not to mention his pin point kicking. Im just grateful Ive kept a VCR libruary of Origin and Test matches so when required i can watch the brilliance of the man. I dont like too many Australian sportsmen but Joey is an ambassador and top nut and watching him play was first rate To play for OZ NSW the Grand final Knights he always gave his all and played well above his weight, so batter up Lance Hohia take the mantle of Joey. To miss the All Golds is massive bummer as Joey leading the Kiwis around the park against the Poms would of been bigger than Reg Reagans guts.
Karai Wall
I've followed Joey's career for many years and believe no other player in the modern league era displayed greater all round skills. He was always known for attacking prowess whether it was his running and passing game or his tactical and goal kicking. But the two things that really made John's different from other great players was his hard nose defence and his total control of the flow of the game at any level. I've watched him dominate front rowers twice his size with tackles and change the outcome of an NRL, Sate of Origin, and Test match game with his decision making on the field. Also like many of the greats of any sport he hated to lose. I got to meet him last year when the Knights lost to the Warriors and he was laying into his team for a poor performance. It's a shame a legend has had to end his career this way and it would have been great to have seen him play with the Kiwi boys in the All Golds at the end of this year. But his accomplishments on the field will leave us with some great rugby league highlights!
