SEN’s Matty Johns has put an end to any speculation he is in line to coach the NSW Blues in the near, stating his inability to fully commit to the role as the main reason.
With current Blues coach, Brad Fittler under serious pressure to keep his job after a second straight series loss, many have called for Johns to take over the role.
Matty had previously been linked with the Samoa national team role, alongside his brother Andrew but the pair were ultimately snubbed for incumbent coach Matt Parish.
With a handful of ongoing media commitments, John admitted he can’t see himself moving into coaching anytime soon.
“When that came out this morning, that people were saying to have a yarn to me (about coaching), I’ve had about five phone calls,” Johns told SEN 1170 The Run Home.
“Not from media, from people going, ‘Matty if you do get it, what are you thinking’, I had a few phone calls but no (I wouldn’t).
“The bottom line is, I’d never put my hand up but you’d also say, ‘You never say, I’ll never do it’, you just don’t know what circumstance is going to come up in the future.
“Bottom line is they’re not looking for a coach at the moment.”
According to many reports, Fittler had to win this year’s series to trigger an automatic extension for the 2024 season and beyond.
“The Origin job to even consider it, you’d actually look at it and say, ‘If I can’t give the campaign 100 per cent focus, my entire focus,’ then I wouldn’t even consider it,” Johns added.
“At the moment I’ve got that much on my plate, you couldn’t find the hours to do it, it’s not just the coaching, you’ve got sponsors, dinner, charities and whatnot to do.
“It’s a lot bigger job then just coaching a side for six weeks.”
The Blues will head to Sydney for Game III in three weeks’ time as they aim to stop the Maroons from a series whitewash.