Matty Johns reveals hard times stories of the Super League War when he was an emerging Knights star

Rugby league identity Matty Johns has revealed a series of hilarious anecdotes from the infamous Super League war and the time he called on Phil Gould to look after one of his teammates at Newcastle.

Johns, 51, also recalled the unforgettable ‘company car’ he was provided by the Knights in the 1990s when he was an established first grader.

‘After a great 1993 season, I penned a new two-year deal, worth $12,000 a season. I thought I was flying,….until the early part of 1994 when I was selected for Country Origin,’ he said in his column for News Corp.

‘I was petrified when two of the game’s greatest, Glenn Lazarus and Ricky Stuart, took a seat either side of me.

‘Lazzo was regarded as one of the game’s highest paid players, while Ricky was coming off contract. Suggestions were he could be rugby league’s first $500,000 player.

Johns, 51, also recalled the unforgettable ‘company car’ he was provided by the Knights in the 1990s when he was an established first grader (pictured, a Ford Falcon)

‘Suddenly, Lazzo says to me ‘what are they paying you blokes in Newcastle?’

Johns was too embarrassed to reveal his paltry salary in comparison to the two NRL greats – but also didn’t want to be exposed as a liar.

His response was this: ‘Listen fellas, I was always taught that it’s rude to brag about money. But let’s say I’m doing all right.’

Feeling well and truly humbled, Johns then approached Knights management about a pay rise.

They instead offered a ‘company car’ – and it was no Ferrari.

Instead the handed him the keys to a 1982 Ford Falcon, that had four bald tyres, no antenna and a blood stain on the back seat.

Six months later Johns abandoned the car and began searching for a player manager. 

Phil Gould was the ARL negotiator during the Super League war in the 1990s

Ahead of the Super League war – which saw two separate rugby league competitions in 1997 – some players were offered eye-watering contracts to stay loyal to the ARL.

Matthew and younger brother Andrew were stars at the Knights – and ARL negotiator Phil ‘Gus’ Gould paid them both handsomely.

The siblings also had one request – look after their mate from Cessnock Bill Peden, who at the time was a virtual unknown with Newcastle.

Gould complied, writing a gobsmacked Peden a cheque for $50,000.

The late bloomer went onto win premierships with the Knights in 1997 and 2001, where he scored a double in the triumph over the Eels.