The State of Origin’s battle lines have expanded with the Johns brothers’ ongoing feud, with footy fans divided over Queensland star Cameron Munster’s sledding of Andrew on live television.
NRL’s famed siblings have been at odds since leading up to the Origin series opener.
Fox Sports identity Matthew triggered his Channel Nine star brother Andrew by praising Queensland coach Billy Slater and calling him one of the greatest of all time.
That enraged proud New South Welshman Andrew, an NRL Immortal and assistant coach with the Blues.
“Mate, I’m tired of you rapping Queensland, that’s what I’m tired of,” Andrew said live on radio last month.
‘Put on your maroon sweater, you must have it in the house.
“Just because you played four games and lost all four doesn’t mean you should laugh at NSW.”
Sunday Footy Show host Danika Mason and Queensland Maroons assistant coach Johnathan Thurston were tied up over the Munster issue
Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns was unimpressed, completely walling Munster and refusing to answer the question
The two have not spoken since, with Andrew quitting his role on Matty’s SEN radio show and refusing to call back on his birthday.
So when Munster and Maroons great Johnathan Thurston appeared on the Sunday Footy Show, Queensland’s five-eighth couldn’t resist the chance to lure Andrew.
When the interview ended, Munster said cheekily, “Joey, have you made it up to your brother yet?”
Thurston roared in his trademark laugh and punched Munster in approval.
However, the question left Johns with a frosty face and he declined to comment as he stared at the Queensland star to death.
Many footy fans found Munster’s dig hilarious, but others felt the Storm star had crossed the line and interfered in a personal matter.
“It’s a problem within their own family, brainless Munster have no business remarks on TV,” one fan wrote.
“Maybe you should mind your own business in Munster,” another posted.
“Don’t bring family in a sleigh. Doesn’t matter who it is,” added another.
A host of footy fans felt Cameron Munster went too far by sledding Andrew Johns over a personal family matter
Many other footy fans thought Johns was childish with his reaction and had no sense of humour
However, many others thought Johns was a “sook” and took a light-hearted remark too seriously.
‘This is so funny. Joey looked like he was crying. Why is he so hypersensitive?’ one fan asked.
“Andrew acting and acting like a kid is making it harder for himself to take over from Freddy next year,” another tweeted.
“Andrew is such a wet wipe, just angry that his brother is significantly more popular now,” another posted.
Cricket great Greg Chappell recently said the ‘feud’ between the Johns brothers was just a stunt.
However, the conflict has since escalated with Johns taking an indefinite leave from his brother’s SEN radio show for the remainder of the year, refusing to speak publicly about it.
Andrew Johns made his triumphant return to the Origin arena in game two of the 2005 series, pictured congratulated by his brother Matthew
Andrew has not spoken publicly about the feud with his brother, but quit Matthew’s radio show on SEN and refused to call back on his birthday
Matthew Johns was more willing to talk about the issues between the brothers as he went about his regular media duties
Andrew Johns had a great State of Origin career, winning four series with NSW.
That included a triumphant comeback to Origin in 2005, returning from a broken jaw to lead the Blues to a series win in a man-of-the-match performance in game two.
Matthew Johns played four State of Origin games for four losses.
The New South Wales Blues will play against Queensland in game two of the 2023 series next Wednesday at Suncorp Stadium.
Victory would keep the series alive, while defeat would put immense pressure on coach Brad Fittler, along with his assistants, including Johns.