Junior Johns puts name up in lights for resurgent Storm

Just 10 games into his NRL career Storm rookie Cooper Johns has bagged his maiden try, set up four-pointers for his mates and savoured a win over defending premiers Penrith with the No.7 on his back.

But there’s still one box the young playmaker is yet to tick – play in front of his dad.

While his famous uncle Andrew was among the crowd on Cooper’s debut at CommBank Stadium in 2020 and again at Penrith during Thursday night’s top-of-the-table clash, dad Matty is yet to watch his son play live in the NRL.

“Joey and my cousin Lewis were here tonight so it was great to see them but my dad’s actually never been to a game,” Johns told NRL.com.

“Unfortunately for him it never links up. He keeps having his TV show on Thursday and Sunday and I always seem to play on those nights.

“So Joey stepped in as my dad tonight which was good.”

Johns admitted to having a few nerves ahead of Thursday night’s clash against the competition heavyweights but he reckons his old man would have done it even tougher.

“My first game for the year against Penrith we got rolled and we were a little bit embarrassed after that game, so I was a bit nervous before the game tonight,” Johns said.

“I knew Dad would be watching in the studio before his show, so he does watch me but he’s just never watched me play first grade live before.

“He gets pretty nervous, probably more than me, so I think he prefers to watch on the TV.”

Coming off a superb showing against the Titans in Round 21 in which he contributed three try assists and three tackle breaks, the 23-year-old Johns was feeling more at home at the elite level and it was his defence that stood up against Penrith in a tense struggle.

“Although tonight wasn’t too much fun because we defended for such a long time. It’s just really nice to be enjoying my footy at the moment,” Johns said.

“I just want to play more first grade. I’m really enjoying my footy at the moment and I really love playing for the Storm. I supported them growing up.

“I probably started supporting the Storm in about 2005 when the big three boys [Slater, Cronk, Smith] were coming through so that was a big reason why I wanted to go to Melbourne as a junior.

“Cooper Cronk had left but Smithy (Cameron Smith) and Slatsy (Billy Slater) were still there so I got to play a couple of games with them."

 
A free agent at the end of this season, Johns said his childhood dream of becoming a full-time Melbourne playmaker still lingers but his future in the game will be decided on “what’s best” for his footy.

“I love the Storm but I understand they’ve got a lot of their spine players locked down which are all world class players,” he said.

“The likes of Munster and Hughesy (Jahrome) are all playing for their country and in really good form.

“I’d love to stay at the Storm, I love living in Melbourne, but if other opportunities came up, I’d have to do what’s best for my footy future as well.”