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Chris Johns (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Chris Johns is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He played in the centres, achieving representative honours for Australia and New South Wales. His club football career was spent with the St. George Dragons
and Brisbane Broncos
, as well as a spell in England with Castleford
. After retiring from the playing field, Johns worked in the administration of the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm
clubs.
after playing in the winning reserve grade grand final.
After a stint with Castleford
in 1986–87 Johns moved to the newly-created Brisbane Broncos in 1988.
Johns was the top try-scorer for the Broncos in 1989
. At the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, he went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
.
During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he helped Australia retain The Ashes.
In the weeks following the grand final Johns travelled with the Broncos to England, where he played at centre in the 1992 World Club Challenge
against British champions Wigan
, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain.
During the 1994 NSWRL season, Johns played at centre for defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan
for the 1994 World Club Challenge
.
to help set up the new Melbourne Storm
club. He was responsible for signing the key players that allowed Melbourne to win the premiership in only their second season. He left the post at the end of 2002.
In 2000 Johns was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league.
During the 2007 season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Johns.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He played in the centres, achieving representative honours for Australia and New South Wales. His club football career was spent with the St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
and Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, as well as a spell in England with Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
. After retiring from the playing field, Johns worked in the administration of the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
clubs.
Playing career
Johns played as a reserve back for St. George in the 1985 NSWRL season's Grand FinalGrand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
after playing in the winning reserve grade grand final.
After a stint with Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
in 1986–87 Johns moved to the newly-created Brisbane Broncos in 1988.
Johns was the top try-scorer for the Broncos in 1989
Brisbane Broncos 1989
The 1989 Brisbane Broncos season was the second in the club's history. They competed in the NSWRL's 1989 Winfield Cup premiership and in their second year improved on their first, finishing the season in sixth position after losing their first ever play-off match against the Cronulla-Sutherland...
. At the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, he went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France
The 1990 Kangaroo Tour was the seventeenth Kangaroo Tour, where the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Europe and played eighteen matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches...
.
During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he helped Australia retain The Ashes.
In the weeks following the grand final Johns travelled with the Broncos to England, where he played at centre in the 1992 World Club Challenge
1992 World Club Challenge
The 1992 World Club Challenge match was contested by the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan and the 1992 NSWRL season's premiers, the Brisbane Broncos...
against British champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain.
During the 1994 NSWRL season, Johns played at centre for defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
for the 1994 World Club Challenge
1994 World Club Challenge
The 1994 MMI World Club Challenge was a replay of the 1992 World Club Challenge, with 1993–94 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan facing the 1993 NSWRL season premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, this time in Australia. Wigan were clearly the dominant club in the English game, having won the...
.
Post-playing
Following retirement Johns worked in the Brisbane Broncos administration before moving south with John RibotJohn Ribot
John Ribot is an Australian sports administrator and former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. Once a Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative winger, Ribot was the 1980 NSWRFL season's top try-scorer...
to help set up the new Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
club. He was responsible for signing the key players that allowed Melbourne to win the premiership in only their second season. He left the post at the end of 2002.
In 2000 Johns was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league.
During the 2007 season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Johns.