- NRL immortal Andrew Johns joined the New South Wales stars after the match
- The footage also captured a surprise appearance by the AFL great.
Millions of Channel Nine viewers got to see NRL legend Andrew Johns enter the victorious New South Wales dressing room on Wednesday night, but it’s likely that almost none of them saw the Australian sporting superstar standing right behind him.
Johns is well known for taking football fans into the inner sanctum after matches in his role as a commentator on the network, but the star in question isn’t exactly known for his love of rugby league, which makes his appearance all the more surprising.
However, he is best known as an AFL Premiership star, Brownlow Medal winner and one of the greatest Australian players of all time, before falling victim to drug addiction and several brushes with the law, leading to him being jailed before overcoming his demons and beginning a broadcasting career. You can watch his brief appearance in this week’s Origin match below.
Still not sure what to do? The man in question is none other than Ben Cousins, who can be seen briefly on the left of the screen as Johns prepares to walk through the locker room door.
It appears the former West Coast and Richmond star is waiting his turn to enter the New South Wales sheds, where Johns soon discovered the team singing a beer-flavoured victory song after their classic 14-4 win over Queensland.
Cousins has had a great 2024 so far after turning his life around in major ways over the past few years, looking healthy, clean and sober and landing a new job as a TV news presenter in his hometown of Perth.
He will also appear on Seven’s Dancing with the Stars, teaming up with his dance partner Siobhan Power.
AFL great Ben Cousins (left) made a must-see appearance on Channel Nine’s Origin coverage as Andrew Johns (right) took viewers into the New South Wales dressing room.
The controversial former West Coast Eagles star is now forging a career in television as he appears on Dancing With The Stars (pictured)
After retiring in 2010, the 2006 flag winner is eligible for induction into the AFL Hall of Fame but was philosophical in May when news broke that he would not be inducted.
While he certainly has the credentials as a player to achieve the league’s top honor, his well-documented battles with alcohol, drugs and his criminal past have prevented him from doing so to date.
That includes a conviction for stalking his ex-partner, which led to him spending seven months in jail in 2020.
“I never find myself thinking about it, you know, really,” she said of the rejection.
‘It’s an honour that… it’s hard to get… There have been so many great players over the years, I wouldn’t envy the job of trying to include just a few each year.
‘I completely understand your decision.
‘I, like everyone else, will sit there and look forward to celebrating whoever comes in this year.
‘That’s the way it is.’
