Rugby: Skirmish could cost John dear

A late-night altercation with a teammate could have cost Australian rugby league Andrew Johns the chance of captaining his national team.

Half-back Johns was tipped as a successor to outgoing Kangaroos captain Brad Fittler, but was involved in a furious argument with Newcastle Knights and Australia forward Ben Kennedy in a Newcastle bar on Sunday.

And now the man commonly touted in Australia as the best RL player in the world has fallen down the pecking order after a second skirmish in 12 months.

Last year, he was involved with a number of teammates in an incident on a domestic flight.

Australian Rugby League chairman Colin Love stated: ‘‘It is human nature that players, and even officials for that matter, are going to be involved in arguments from time to time.

‘‘But I think it is fair to say that you would prefer that when arguments did happen, they took place in private and not in public.’’

And rugby writer and commentator Peter Frilingos added: ‘‘Johns can probably kiss the Australian captaincy goodbye now.

‘‘ARL directors have only just forgiven him for that incident last year. Now they will be forced to think hard about his captaincy claims before Australia take on Great Britain in the one-off Test in July.

‘‘The three other contenders for the job Gorden Tallis, Darren Lockyer and Trent Barrett all seem to know how to conduct themselves in public. Johns clearly does not.’’

There wasn’t a punch thrown in this latest incident, but the spectacle of the game’s most recognisable figure losing the plot with have some of the ARL directors reaching for the black ball.

Johns must now also face the prospect of having alienated New South Wales Rugby League board members who have had him earmarked to lead the Blues in the State of Origin series.