Andrew Johns struggles to accept Nine commentary team demotion to sideline duties

Andrew Johns is struggling to accept his new sideline duties after he was demoted from Nine Network’s commentary box.

The Newcastle legend was downgraded from the channel’s commentary team and has been reporting from the sidelines for the past several games.

Johns refused to comment on the abrupt shift, which comes with his contract with the network due to expire at the end of the year.    

The Newcastle legend (pictured with partner Kate Kendall) was downgraded from the NRL commentary team and has been spending time on the sidelines for the past several games 

‘Leave me out of that,’ he told Daily Telegraph. 

Nine Network released a statement last year boasting about its ‘all-star commentary’ team after securing broadcast rights with the NRL for the next five years.

Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Jonathan Thurston were among the big names announced – with Johns receiving no mention at all.

The shift comes after Nine’s head of NRL Simon Fordham was moved to streaming service Stan Sport.

He was replaced by Andrews Rogers, who has mostly been using Smith, Slater and Phil Gould in the commentary box.

Johns appears to have been snubbed along with other footy legends in Paul Gallen and Brad Fittler. 

Johns is known for his candidness and his willingness to address the big issues in the sport.

He did not hesitate to call out Panthers playmaker Nathan Cleary following a ‘dangerous’ tackle on Brisbane’s Billy Walters during the sides’ clash on Good Friday. 

Cameron Smith, Billy Slater (pictured, right) and Jonathan Thurston were among the big names highlighted by Nine when the network boasted about its commentary line-up last year – with Johns receiving no mention at all

Johns appears to have been snubbed from the commentary box along with fellow footy legends Paul Gallen (pictured) and Brad Fittler

‘I thought looking at it and after the game, I thought it was really dangerous,’ Johns told Cleary on the Sunday Footy Show.  

Cleary said he regretted the tackle and that he had immediately apologised to Walters.

‘That was a really bad one,’ he said. ‘It was an awkward tackle, I rushed out and tried to take him to the ground. It was poor technique.

‘As soon as my leg came off the ground, anything can happen from there. I definitely didn’t do it with any intent, but it was a real ugly one. I was just apologising straight away

‘I felt it get awkward and his knee get trapped. It definitely wasn’t something I was trying to do. I was just trying to see if he was all right.’

The contact earned Cleary a dangerous contact charge from the NRL.  

Johns retired from the NRL in 2007 in after a series of injuries, including a career-ending bulging disc in his neck. He has done coaching work with several clubs, including the Sydney Roosters (Johns pictured with Roosters halfback Luke Keary)

Johns retired from the NRL in 2007 in after a series of injuries, including a career-ending bulging disc in his neck.

He made his debut for the Newcastle Knights in 1993, winning premierships with the club in 1997 and 2001.

Johns also represented NSW in State of Origin 23 times and played for Australia on 26 occasions.