The Two of Me - Andrew Johns

by Cadigan Neil Johns Andrew, Neil Cadigan

Hailed as the greatest Rugby League player in the history of the game, Andrew Johns is one of the most compelling personalities in Australian sport. A three-time winner of the Dally M Medal for the best and fairest in the NRL and a driving force behind two premierships for the Newcastle Knights, the bare statistics only hint at the massive impact 'Joey' has had on Rugby League. However, his achievements on the field have masked the overwhelming challenges he has faced off the park. From his early teenage years, Andrew suffered from mood swings and depression that, in 2000, were finally diagnosed as a bipolar disorder. For more than a decade Andrew also struggled with alcohol problems and recreational drug use, which sensationally came to public attention in August 2007. From the emotionally vulnerable kid from Cessnock battling to cope with fame and the effects of his medical condition, to the barnstorming, all-conquering footballer, the two of Me is Andrew Johns' candid account of his remarkable life. (Fully revised and updated)

Genres: Biography, Sports, Autobiography

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[James Ditchfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Andrew Johns, for both his exploits on the field as well as his seemingly complex persona off of it. Naturally, I was excited to delve into both of these elements further by reading his autobiography.

I was incredibly disappointed at how much of a missed opportunity this book was. Yes, it is better (and longer) than most rugby league biographies, but for me I still expected more because ‘Joey’ was such a huge figure in the game.

A major problem with the book is its structure. It bounces back and forth between a regular auto/biography (I.e. a recollection of his life and career) and random chapters like “room mate form guide”. Granted the latter chapters can be fun, but would be better left for the end of the book so as not to interfere in the pacing.

My greatest disappointment in the book came from the avoidance of specifics, and a reliance on general statements such as “this was good…I was happy….i felt really depressed and felt life wasn’t worth living but anyway we had this game and I played well”. In his chapter about the Knights’ famous 1997 victory, he merely says that it meant a lot to Newcastle and he consumed a reservoir of alcohol. He didn’t touch on any incidents of talking to Newcastle fans and seeing first hand how much of an impact it had, or even bring up the famous story of him dragging Daniel Johns to one of their parties. Nor did he attempt to contextualise the importance of the game to the town of Newcastle by providing a background as to what is was like to live in the city at the time, or mention the closure of BHP in Newcastle which meant a lot of people found extra solace in the success of their football team during that period.

This book promises itself to be a tell-all memoir about the realities of being a famous footballer while dealing with the struggles that come with having a mental illness (namely bipolar disorder), but unlike Johns’ form on the field, he fails to stand up when it counts in the literary stakes. Oh, apparently he also has ADHD (a condition that undoubtedly would have caused problems throughout his life) which I only learned from listening to an episode of a little known podcast he appeared on in 2022, and not from his own autobiography.

Finally, I think this book suffers from having been written so close to the end of his career. He retired the same year this book was released (2007), and thus it lacks the depth of perspective that would have proved beneficial had he written it maybe 15-20 years later. He seems more comfortable in himself now than he was at the time this book was being written, and his repeated attempts at clarifying how great his life was in the immediate aftermath of his retirement ring hollow when you hear him talk about that period now.

Anyway, as a rugby league book it is okay. For Andrew Johns fans it is a letdown. You’ll hear more interesting stories from him in a single episode of ‘Freddy and the Eighth’ than this entire book.

[Tony · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall the book annoyed me. Johns is a Rugby League Legend who, by his own account is bit of a ratbag. In my view he continually contradicted himself, stating for example that he hated media attention, but in reality revelled in it. He kept telling the reader 'he had changed' but would then revert to telling stories about old mate who is a big drinker and the great times they had together. I wished he would have reflected more on his life rather than just telling stories, normally about himself.

[Jamie Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Even if rugby league is not your thing. This is a fine biography on how success can drive you to achieve more but also destroy you with injuries and temptations put in your path. Honest and sometimes brutal. The last chapter is a good choice where his friends & colleagues pass comment on him.

[Dr Tim Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into a great player

Joey Johns is the most talented rugby league player I have seen, besides Wally Lewis. This is an honest account of a person way more complex than the public persona.

[Lynne Cryle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant reading

Great book fantastic read moving story to read off
The mental health issues, seen him play on many occasions best one against Leeds in2005

[Seamus Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

good onya andrew

[Julie Antidormi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.
Best footballer EVER and his book didn’t disappoint.
Time for an updated book 🤞

[Peter Langston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neil Cadigan probably should have taken stricter control over the content of this memoir, although from the moment of Johns eventual capture for illicit drug use, the project clearly was in damage control. The result, with its additions and postscripts, is a book which has uneven pace. Johns honesty is admirable, turning disaster driven by mental illness into eventual triumph. Had he found a path to that honesty earlier, including being honest with himself, the guilt and shame which placed him in so much danger, might well have been avoided. His brilliance as a footballer is beyond question but it's only the public part of this story. The real story - the life of Andrew not Joey - is so much more interesting because of his struggle to accept the complications that bipolar threw into his life and his consistent failure to control his mania. Like many with bipolar, Johns has been seduced by the powerful allure of his brain chemicals, which must have included a refusal to take prescription drugs which would have reduced the manic influence. The world enjoyed the memorable Joey as a result but did Andrew and those who loved him?

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

look, you can take the boy out of cronulla. but i love RUGBY LEAGUE! and sespite the horrible incident with greg birds this week belive it is a wonderful, emotional complex game important to civilisation. this book tells the exposing tale of the greatest ever players (and close personal friend of mine's) battle with bipolar disorder. its also a candid account of his life playing the game, and the way he approaches it. he is on equal terms with mozart, jordan, pinter - a master of his craft. and a bloody good bloke. you wont find poetry here, but this is as good as sports bio's get. go the sharks!

[D.A. Cairns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in a rambling conversational style which didn't really follow any logical structure, I nonetheless enjoyed most of it. Having luckily picked up the hardcover version in Hobart, Tasmania where Johns is relatively unknown, I was interested to hear about his life on and off the football field and the struggles he had and still has with bipolar disorder. Andrew Johns is the best rugby league player I have seen, and although the book at times became a little self indulgent and dull, it was generally worth the read. A must read for rugby league fans and sports fans generally.

[Vurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading it but it was a bit of a chore sometimes. It was good to get to know Andrew "Joey" Johns more.

3.5 would be a more accurate rating because I went from liking the book a lot to tolerating it in some parts.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

an excellent, no holds barred autobiography from one of the games greatest.

[Ursula · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting insight into Andrew John's football courier and life off the field.

[Lachie Woodhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think thats its a very good book. G-schnieds would like it cause its eshay/.

[Tim Edison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting read of a great Rugby League player who also suffers from bipolar disorder.

[Mark Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to hear what was really going on in the background.