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Former Newcastle Knights star Matty Johns has surprisingly chosen to buy a stake in the Gold Coast Titans, according to reports.
The Courier Mail writes that Johns, who was born and raised in New South Wales, has purchased a minority share in the Queensland outfit.
The surprising news is due to be confirmed by the footy club on Monday, with Johns set to join Rebecca and Brett Frizelle as a part-owner in the club.
It comes four months after the Frizelle family took full ownership of the footy club, with former Paralympics Australia director Rebecca and Brett Frizelle buying up Darryl and Joanne Kelly’s shares in the club.
The Frizelle family has made headlines in the rugby league world in recent years for their ruthless decisions to part company with coaches Justin Holbrook and, more recently, ex-Manly boss Des Hasler.
Hasler, who had been in charge for only a year, was shown the door after his embattled Titans slumped to 16th in the NRL ladder this season, having won a mere six games this season.
Former Newcastle Knights star Matty Johns has surprisingly chosen to buy a stake in the Gold Coast Titans
He is due to buy a minority stake in the footy club and will join up with current majority owner Rebecca Frizelle (left, with ex-NRL CEO Dave Smith)
The details of Johns' (right, with Rob Schneider) investment are still to be revealed
Johns, meanwhile, enjoyed a glittering career in rugby league, making four State of Origin appearances for New South Wales, while also representing the Knights on 176 occasions.
The Courier Mail claims that Frizelle sees the Fox Sports pundit as one of rugby league’s best analysts.
Both parties have been in secret talks over the past few weeks, with Johns having also informed Fox of his decision to invest in the club - a move that the broadcaster has no issue with.
While the details of the deal are yet to be disclosed, the broadcaster is understood to be a big admirer of the Frizelle family.
They are well known for having established one of the largest automotive dealerships in Queensland.
The Frizelles took joint ownership of the club with the Kelly family, after the latter saved the Titans from going bankrupt in 2012.
The club’s highest league placing came in 2009, when Gold Coast finished third.
But in recent years, the Titans have struggled to reach those heights, finishing in the bottom four on the NRL ladder in all four of the most recent seasons.
The club is now facing the task of climbing back up the league, but Johns and his wife, Trish, see the investment as a long-term plan
The club is now facing the task of climbing back up the league, with him and his wife, Trish, seeing the investment as a long-term plan.
Johns also wants to help guide the Titans to their first-ever premiership.
The former premiership winner has experience owning and managing a company, too.
While many know him for his media work, Johns is also a co-owner of Steel City Beer Company, alongside his brother Andrew Johns and fellow former players Danny Buderus and Kurt Gidley.
