Johns recruited to join Redfern revolution

Matty Johns has been enlisted to groom South Sydney’s playmakers for what shapes as a vital season at Redfern.

Johns has built a reputation for specialist halves coaching through his successful association with Melbourne Storm over the past decade, where he has tutored the likes of Cooper Cronk, Cameron Munster and Brodie Croft.

Late last year the popular commentator answered a call from the Rabbitohs to advise playmakers Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker, Damien Cook and Adam Doueihi.

Those players have since made several visits to Johns, who lives across town from Redfern on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Johns has made a handful of appearances at Redfern since and has also spoken with Rabbitohs skipper Greg Inglis, with whom he works at Fox Sports.

Johns’ TV commitments also set the scene for an interesting reunion with veteran Souths hooker Robbie Farah.

The pair engaged in a heated on-air exchange in 2012, after Johns fired a series of hard-hitting questions at the then Wests Tigers skipper.

Farah later claimed that he was “ambushed” and relations between the two ex-Blues have been frosty ever since.

Entering what is expected to be his final NRL season, the 35-year-old Farah is yet to cross paths with Johns after being given extended time off following his 2017 Rugby League World Cup campaign with Lebanon.

The move to enlist Johns -- who refuses pay for his coaching to preserve his independence as a commentator -- comes after new Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold sent Reynolds and Walker to AFL club Port Adelaide earlier this month for specialist kicking clinics.

After making his State of Origin debut for NSW in 2016, Reynolds has struggled for fitness and consistency, while doubt surrounds Walker’s future at the club after he was refused a contract upgrade last year.

The Rabbitohs sacked Michael Maguire last September with two years remaining on his contract to appoint Seibold, who has impressed with two Origin series wins as assistant coach under Kevin Walters.

After winning the premiership in 2014, the Rabbitohs have comfortably missed the finals the past two years.

Johns has also completed a session with Newcastle’s halves and recently visited the Titans to work alongside boom No.7 Ash Taylor, who has returned from the Christmas break in peak physical condition.