The Serve

One way or the other, interview will not change opinions

A tear here. A cough there. A revelation about his son. Another cough. Viewers watching Andrew Johns’ tell-all on The Footy Show were glued to this real life drama, looking for clues in Johns’ speech and body language like they were investigating a homicide.

The verdict?

If you like or dislike Andrew Johns, chances are your opinion of him would not have changed.

Rectifying the wrong of the morning’s press statement, Johns was brutally open. Then again, he had no other choice. The public saw through the original explanation and demanded more.

Johns was contrite and candid. That candidness admirable in such troubled waters. He was also jittery, continually shuffling about in his chair, constantly adjusting his jaw. Nerves surely playing a role, however for someone trying to convince his public that drugs are behind him, it wasn’t a good look. Colleagues of this columnist also referred to his ‘smirking’.

What was clear is that he was sorry. But for what exactly? Doing drugs, or simply getting caught?

His pain at being handcuffed and living his next few hours in dark uncertainty are understandable, however one must question if that is enough for a regular user to quit?

Phil Gould treated Johns with a certain contempt, like a father would if his son had committed such an offence. It brought out credibility and repentance, but it also brought out the occasional defensive snap. Probably understandable for a man who was on the ropes, getting pummeled, to hit back, however it didn’t help the look.

Johns’ revelation that his family, his teammates and his club knew of his predilections makes a mockery of manager John Fordham, who earlier in the evening blankly denied having any knowledge of Johns’ issues. Think of Fordham, then think of Matt Johns after the interview.

Quite the difference.

If you like Andrew Johns, you saw a man who bravely broadcast his dark past, his fears and his shame. His near collapse at the mere mention of his son a sign of his humanity.

If you don’t like Andrew Johns, you saw a man who was saying what he needed to save a PR disaster, and perhaps his media career.

There is one thing everyone would agree on, with absolute certainty.

Andrew Johns is a very complex individual.