Matthew Johns

I guess every man and his dog has an opinion on the latest saga to envelop rugby league, ironically involving the older of the celebrated Johns duo less than two years after brother Andrew's own public controversy. The circumstances are different – whilst Andrew was caught red handed with ecstasy and subsequently admitted to years of drug abuse, Matthew stands accused of participating in group sex with a consensual female participant. He has been hung out to dry by story hungry journalists – a life and career destroyed over an incident that in my view, he should only be answerable about to his wife.

So the facts are that seven years ago Matthew Johns was in New Zealand with the Cronulla Sharks. Whilst there he participated in (some say instigated) a "gang bang" – whereby a young lady consensually participated in group sex with a number of Sharks players. In retrospect this lady has come to regret her actions, which is not unexpected. However, this was not a sexual assault. Matthew Johns broke no law.

In contrast, the game's most celebrated halfback, Jonathan Thurston continues to be admired and revered five years after allegedly participating in a sexual assault in Coffs Harbour. This allegation was never proven, however for Matthew Johns there was never a legal wrongdoing to prove.

As I have said, he DID cheat on his wife – which is not an admirable act – however that makes this matter between them. After the incident Johns came clean to his wife, they sorted out whatever they needed to and the matter should have ended there.

Now all of a sudden Matthew Johns finds himself very alone. He has overnight become the poster boy for sexual deviance in the NRL. In the process he has been stood down from Channel Nine and his part time role with the Melbourne Storm. He has been crucified by Four Corners, a Current Affair and the newspapers. No other footballer is bearing the brunt of this like he is.

I hope the journalists are happy that they have destroyed a man in the pursuit of viewers and readers.