How rugby league nearly lost one of its best players and future Warrington Wolves man to another sport

Rugby league is never short off producing a superstar player, especially in the NRL.

One of those superstar players came in the shape of Andrew Johns at Newcastle Knights who is now considered an immortal and guided them to NRL glory.

Johns, alongside his brother, were star men for the Knights as was future Leeds Rhinos star Danny Buderus.

Johns also played for New South Wales in State of Origin and Australia and is regarded as one of the best players to play the game.

But his rugby league career nearly ended before he had the chance to shine in Super League for a brief period with Warrington Wolves in 2005 when he nearly ended their wait to get to a Grand Final.

Though a brief spell in Super League, he is still regarded as one of the biggest signings of the summer era.

However, this nearly never happened with Johns coming very close to joining rugby union due to Eddie Jones who oddly could come to rugby league after being relieved of his role as England rugby union boss and having frequently said he would be keen on coaching in the NRL and has been previously approached by Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves.

Initially, neither man was interest in the move spearheaded by the higher ups at rugby Australia, but a meeting between the two would see them change their minds and left Jones believing Johns would change the way rugby union was played.

It is believed that this is where Jones’ curiosity to coach in the NRL comes from even though the move itself never came off.