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YOU may not remember the greatest pass Andrew Johns ever threw because, well, very few highlight reels show it.
"But, mate, a cracker," Knights favourite Mark Hughes insists. "It was against the Eels at Parramatta in 1997\. I was standing more than 30m from Joey and, although it was a left-to-right pass, he's still cut out two blokes and hit me on the chest … I scored untouched."
And for those who missed it?
"Next week he would've done something similar," Hughes laughs. "But that was Joey's greatest strength - he could always put that footy exactly where it needed to be."
It's why today Johns stands among "The Entertainers". A group of superstars from the past 50 years which - announced last night at Star City Casino - includes Kangaroo Billy Slater, Eels superstar Jarryd Hayne and Immortals Graeme Langlands and Wally Lewis.
Here, truly, is a posse who have ignited more matches than a pyromaniac. Brought more Aussies to their feet than Advance Australia Fair. So good you could almost tolerate them being tagged with one of those bumper stickers proclaiming Magic Happens.
And for proof, think back to Hayne's 87m try against Penrith this year. Or his efforts against Canterbury a fortnight later which, historian David Middleton concedes, "left me thinking 'I wonder if this is what it was like to watch Bradman at his best?'."
Together Hayne and Inglis have usurped some of the greatest entertainers in 103 years.
Superstars like Peter Sterling, Brad Fittler and Darren Lockyer. Greg Inglis, Cliffy Lyons and Alfie Langer. Even the Immortality status of John Raper and Bob Fulton was not enough to get a start with this mob named by the Men of League.
Which is why Slater described his inclusion as humbling. The King, staggering. Even the great Changa Langlands listing it among the true highlights of his career.
Johns, unfortunately, was unable to attend the black tie event - having already committed to a Queensland getaway with his family. And so we turn to those who watched him from the best seat in the house.
"Joey just had it all," continues Hughes. "Running, passing, kicking, he'd put a bomb up at training and yell 'crossbar' - it always hit.
"Anything Joey did our lock Billy Peden would also try it as well. And he'd get there. But it took Joe one or two goes. I think Billy's best for anything was 472 attempts."
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Hayne over Benji is ridiculous.
YOU may not remember the greatest pass Andrew Johns ever threw because, well, very few highlight reels show it.
"But, mate, a cracker," Knights favourite Mark Hughes insists. "It was against the Eels at Parramatta in 1997\. I was standing more than 30m from Joey and, although it was a left-to-right pass, he's still cut out two blokes and hit me on the chest … I scored untouched."
And for those who missed it?
"Next week he would've done something similar," Hughes laughs. "But that was Joey's greatest strength - he could always put that footy exactly where it needed to be."
It's why today Johns stands among "The Entertainers". A group of superstars from the past 50 years which - announced last night at Star City Casino - includes Kangaroo Billy Slater, Eels superstar Jarryd Hayne and Immortals Graeme Langlands and Wally Lewis.
Here, truly, is a posse who have ignited more matches than a pyromaniac. Brought more Aussies to their feet than Advance Australia Fair. So good you could almost tolerate them being tagged with one of those bumper stickers proclaiming Magic Happens.
And for proof, think back to Hayne's 87m try against Penrith this year. Or his efforts against Canterbury a fortnight later which, historian David Middleton concedes, "left me thinking 'I wonder if this is what it was like to watch Bradman at his best?'."
Together Hayne and Inglis have usurped some of the greatest entertainers in 103 years.
Superstars like Peter Sterling, Brad Fittler and Darren Lockyer. Greg Inglis, Cliffy Lyons and Alfie Langer. Even the Immortality status of John Raper and Bob Fulton was not enough to get a start with this mob named by the Men of League.
Which is why Slater described his inclusion as humbling. The King, staggering. Even the great Changa Langlands listing it among the true highlights of his career.
Johns, unfortunately, was unable to attend the black tie event - having already committed to a Queensland getaway with his family. And so we turn to those who watched him from the best seat in the house.
"Joey just had it all," continues Hughes. "Running, passing, kicking, he'd put a bomb up at training and yell 'crossbar' - it always hit.
"Anything Joey did our lock Billy Peden would also try it as well. And he'd get there. But it took Joe one or two goes. I think Billy's best for anything was 472 attempts."
---
Hayne over Benji is ridiculous.
