Joey Johns net worth arises from his rugby league career. He is an Australian former professional rugby league football player. He played for Newcastle Knights rugby league team in the National Rugby League (NRL). Johns also represented New South Wales and Australia.

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Joey Johns net worth

The estimated Joey Johns net worth is undisclosed. Nonetheless, his income is linked to his professional rugby league career of 10 years. His playing achievements, broadcasting career, coaching work, endorsements and business interests remain the primary sources of his net worth.

Career highlights

Rugby league

Joey Johns began his rugby league journey with the Cessnock Goannas in his hometown of Cessnock, New South Wales, before earning his first-grade debut with the Newcastle Knights in 1993 at just 19 years old.

His breakthrough came in 1994 when he replaced an injured Matthew Rodwell and produced an unforgettable debut, scoring 23 points and claiming the Man of the Match award.

He quickly established himself as one of the game’s brightest young talents, forming a formidable partnership with his older brother, Matthew Johns.

In 1995, he earned his first State of Origin selection for New South Wales and debuted for Australia during the Rugby League World Cup, helping the Kangaroos retain the title.

His outstanding performances, including a Man of the Match display in the World Cup final against England, earned him the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.

He also became a regular representative for New South Wales and Australia whenever fit and played a defining role in guiding the Newcastle Knights to their maiden premiership in 1997.

Despite battling broken ribs and a punctured lung, he produced one of rugby league’s most iconic plays by setting up Darren Albert’s match-winning try in the dying seconds of the Grand Final.

His brilliance continued in the newly formed NRL, where he won back-to-back Dally M Medals as the league’s Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999, becoming the first player since Michael Cronin to achieve consecutive victories.

His dominance at club, state and international levels firmly established him among rugby league’s greatest players.

As captain, he led Newcastle to a second NRL Premiership in 2001, defeating Parramatta in the Grand Final. His exceptional display earned him the Clive Churchill Medal as the match’s best player.

That same year, he topped Australia’s scoring charts during the successful Ashes series against Great Britain and received the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to rugby league.

In 2002, he was appointed captain of both New South Wales and Australia, won another Dally M Medal, becoming the first player to claim the award three times. He was also named Player of the Series against Great Britain.

Although injuries began to interrupt his career, he remained one of the sport’s defining figures whenever he returned to the field.

A series of serious injuries, including neck, knee, jaw, and back problems, limited his appearances during the mid-2000s. Despite those setbacks, he returned to inspire New South Wales to victory in the 2005 State of Origin series, earning Man of the Match honors in Game 2.

He also briefly played for England’s Warrington Wolves before returning to Newcastle, where he set multiple scoring records in 2006, including becoming the highest points scorer in Australian first-grade rugby league history and the leading points scorer for a single club.

However, recurring neck injuries ultimately forced his retirement in April 2007 after medical specialists warned that continuing to play posed a life-threatening risk.

Media career, coaching and entrepreneurship

Following retirement, Joey Johns remained deeply involved in rugby league and sport. He became a commentator for Channel Nine and Triple M.

He also took on specialist coaching roles with the Wallabies, Parramatta Eels, Newcastle Knights, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Melbourne Rebels and later the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Beyond rugby league, he briefly played professional Twenty20 cricket for New South Wales and completed a charity walk from Newcastle to Sydney to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute.

Entrepreneurship

Joey Johns was also a co-founder and co-owner of Steel City Beer Company, which ceased its operations in 2024.

Recognitions

Newcastle honored Joey Jonhs legacy by retiring his famous No. 7 jersey for a match, naming a stadium grandstand after him, and selecting him as captain and halfback of the club’s Team of the Era.

In 2008, he was named the Best Player of the Last 30 Years by a leading rugby league publication and was selected as the halfback in the Rugby League Team of the Century.

His greatest individual recognition came in 2012 when he became the eighth Immortal of Australian rugby league, cementing his status among the sport’s all-time legends.

He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in October 2012 along with fellow greats of Australian sport such as cricket legend great Adam Gilchrist.

In 2025, he was inducted into the Stadium Australia Hall of Fame.

Wrap up on Joey Johns net worth

Joey Johns’ net worth has achieved financial success through his successful playing career with the Newcastle Knights, representative appearances for New South Wales and Australia, and endorsement opportunities during his playing days. After retirement, he expanded his earnings through television and radio commentary with Channel Nine and Triple M, coaching and mentoring roles across rugby league and rugby union organizations and his business venture.