A clean diet and exercise are the key to a healthy life for Andrew Johns, after the football legend’s idyllic post-footy lifestyle was disrupted by an alleged stalker late last month.
The Channel 9 commentator went to police after meeting a 27-year-old man for a few days in March. The man has now been charged with stalking and will undergo a psychiatric examination.
Johns, 49, first saw the man while surfing at Bronte Beach. The man stood in the water and stared at the NSW Blues legend for a while before he was seen again outside Johns’ luxurious home.
The football great saw the same man again the next day at his local cafe, prompting him to call the police.
“A man has been charged following an investigation by officers from the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command into the alleged stalking of a 49-year-old man,” a NSW Police spokesperson said.
Andrew Johns lives an idyllic life at his Bronte home with partner Kate Kendall
The football legend’s bliss was disrupted by an alleged stalker late last month
Johns enjoys a lifestyle that includes surfing, yoga and healthy eating
‘On Sunday 31 March 2024, a 27-year-old man was charged with stalking and refused bail.
‘He appeared before Parramatta Local Court yesterday (1 April 2024) and was granted bail.’
Apart from the unwanted encounter, Johns lives a peaceful life in Sydney’s Bronte, where he regularly practices yoga and surfing to keep himself in top condition.
After retiring from football, Johns admits he enjoyed too much beer and bad food, but has since overhauled his lifestyle.
“When I first retired I wanted to take a break because I had played and trained for 20 years, but I noticed that the less active I was, the worse I felt,” he told News Corp.
‘And even though I wasn’t training as intensely, my food intake was still very high and I was eating all the wrong foods, so I gained some weight.
‘It wasn’t until I started watching what and when I ate that I got back to my normal weight and I’ve pretty much stayed there ever since. Once you do it the right way and eat the right food, you really see the results.”
Johns says yoga in particular has kept him disciplined and helped his mental health.
‘I always thought yoga was for girls, but now I wish I had done more of it while playing. Physically it’s great for my body, especially with all the injuries I’ve had, but mentally it’s even better; it really clears my head.
‘It also keeps me under control. If I know I’m doing yoga in the morning, I’ll behave the night before – within reason.”
Johns has also recently discovered the benefits of medicinal cannabis. He claims it has changed his life since his retirement and has begged more stars to use it.
The 49-year-old lives in Bronte in Sydney’s east and lives in a luxury apartment
He reportedly paid about $2.8 million for the swish pad in 2016
“For me, I’ve been quite vocal about it because it has completely changed my life. I started it four or five years ago because of the seizures I was having, which may have contributed to the concussion,” he said on Wide World of The Immortal Behavior of Sport.
‘I have been seizure free since taking it, but I am still on traditional medicine for that, but I am as clear as I have ever been.
‘Physically for my body, I no longer take anti-inflammatories and I don’t take painkillers, which I should not have at home given my personality.
‘For me it has been a game changer, I sometimes surf three or four hours a day. I wake up and there’s no inflammation, it takes away all the inflammation.’
It all makes for a restful life away from the commentary box, and Johns has enviable views of Bronte Beach from his $2.8 million home in Sydney’s east.
The stylish home overlooks Bronte Beach and has three bedrooms, one for himself and each of his two sons.
Johns has a fractured relationship with his brother Matty after they fell out over State of Origin
The apartment also features large floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views, hardwood floors and a private elevator.
The extensive kitchen is complete with white cabinets and a marble countertop, with space for three stools and a breakfast nook.
Next to the master bedroom there is a patio and outdoor space, accessible via sliding doors.
Johns played 23 State of Origin games for New South Wales Blues and captained the Newcastle Knights.
He also represented Australia twice at the World Cup and is considered one of the greatest Australian rugby league players of all time.
Johns has a long-term partner, Kate Kendall. The couple has been dating since 2016. He has a fractured relationship with his brother Matty after they fell out over State of Origin a few years ago.