The sons of Matthew Johns have shared brilliant moments after the full-time siren after playing against each other for the first time in an NRL match.
But in an incredible twist of fate, neither Manly Sea Eagles five-eighth Cooper or Newcastle Knights lock Jack have taken the spoils as the sides shared a rare draw in Mudgee.
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The 32-all draw after 90 minutes of pulsating action was the first time since Round 3, 2020 that the NRL has seen a draw, which is all the rarer in the age of golden point.
It felt like the right finish in a seesawing 12 try thriller.
The Sea Eagles rushed out to a 10-0 lead inside 10 minutes but the Knights bounced back, taking a 22-16 lead into the break.
Manly bounced back and with 10 minutes remaining, held a 32-28 lead.
A controversial try was denied from Bradman Best when the last ditch defender moved the ball, with the Bunker deeming it was a dropped ball, but Knights weren’t done.
Dominic Young scored four in the match, including the match tying try with two minutes remaining.
Desperately needing a try, Knights half Phoenix Crossland kicked for Young, who outleaped Reuben Garrick and slammed the ball down to send the match to extra-time.
Both sides were out on their feet after the match and the Johns brothers traded jerseys, with their proud dad unable to wipe the smile off his face.
“What a moment for the Johns family,” Yvonne Sampson said.
“The Johns boys are going to remember this for this for the rest of their lives.”
Cooper Cronk added that after the match: “If there was a winner, it was the Johns family.
“There’s Matty Johns watching his boys play for the first time against each other and fittingly it’s a draw and they swap jerseys. That’ll end up on the mantelpiece for a long time. That’s a nice moment for the Johns family.”
Before the match, proud dad and media personality Matty Johns spoke to Fox League.
“I keep an arms distance, Trish has spoken to them, read them the riot act,” he laughed.
“They’re okay, we ran into Jack last night, having run into the little bloke.
“They’re aware of the fact that those two blokes playing against each other really means nothing. Jack’s just a bloke in a Newcastle jersey and vice versa.”
Johns said the pair had been through setbacks with Cooper cut loose from the Melbourne Storm last season, while Jack had a shoulder reconstruction before an infection had him questioning his future in the sport.
But the older brother made it through the off-season and has stayed healthy, with Johns adding: “When they’re healthy, we’re happy.”
Johns has his own experience of playing against his brother, the eighth Immortal Andrew, in round six of 2002.
Matty played one season for Cronulla and in his return to Newcastle, his Sharks were thumped 52-8.
“The most embarrassing thing was they gave me a standing ovation coming off the field after we were beat by 50,” he said. “It was like they were saying ‘thank you’.”
The Sharks did get revenge later in the season in a 64-14 win over Newcastle at home, but Johns didn’t play as he battled neck and shoulder injuries, which ultimately ended his NRL career.
