Newcastle Knights have brought back club legend Andrew Johns as a coaching consultant in a huge coup for the struggling club.
The Hunter club made the announcement on Tuesday with Johns quitting his role as halves and spine coach at Parramatta Eels.
Knights chief Philip Gardner was delighted to welcome the Newcastle icon back to McDonald-Jones Stadium.
"Having Andrew join the staff is a significant moment in the history of our club," Gardner said.
"His Rugby League knowledge is unmatched anywhere in the world and he will be an excellent addition to the team.
"Joey’s return marks the beginning of an incredibly exciting period in our club’s history and we can’t wait to see him get to work.”
Johns played 249 matches at the Knights between 1993 and 2007, winning two NRL titles, three Dally M medals and countless other honours.
He will link with current Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien, who has been at the club since the start of the 2020 season.
The Knights finished seventh in 2021 and were knocked out at the elimination final stage by the Eels, after making it to the same point in 2020 but being bundled out by the Rabbitohs.
There is current unrest at the club with suggestion Mitchell Pearce is keen to be released from the final year of his contract to heard abroad to Catalans in France.
