13 May 2009

Johns stood down from Channel Nine and Melbourne Storm

6:38 pm on 13 May 2009

The Embattled Australian rugby league personality Matthew Johns has been stood down indefinitely from his on-air commitments with Channel Nine and his coaching role with NRL club Melbourne Storm.

Johns' future has been under a cloud since the ABC's Four Corners program aired allegations about his involvement in a group sex incident in New Zealand seven years ago while he was playing for Cronulla.

NRL chief executive David Gallop reacted strongly to the report which featured several sex scandals to have beset rugby league in recent years.

Gallop had also said there was a "massive question mark" over Johns' future in the game.