NEWCASTLE great Matt Johns has revealed Alex McKinnon and Cameron Smith are planning to speak.

Smith’s name has dominated the headlines for the past week after the hooker came under heavy criticism in a 60 Minutes program on the former Newcastle forward prior to the State of Origin decider.

In the hour-long show, McKinnon voiced his anger over on-field comments Smith made following the tackle that left him a quadriplegic in March last year and his apparent lack of contact since the incident.

SMITH SAYS MCKINNON ISSUE PRIVATE

Smith, who was not granted a right of reply, has remained silent on the issue but according to Johns, Smith and McKinnon are planning to meet in private.

“They are planning to catch up,” Johns declared on the Triple M Grill Team.

“There doesn’t need to be cameras there or audio

“They will bury the hatchet, there’s no doubt about it.

“The sooner the two boys get to catch up, the better.”

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Johns said he caught up with the Australian captain in Brisbane following Queensland’s Origin victory.

Johns said the week leading up to the decider took it out of Smith and has weighed heavily on the 32-year-old and his family.

media_camera Alex McKinnon of the Knights lays on the ground after being tackled.

“I’ve never seen a man so tired — physically and mentally just exhausted,” Johns said.

“It wasn’t so much from the game but it was the week leading in.

“The last few days had taken an enormous toll, not only on him but his whole family.”

Smith has remained relatively silent on the issue this entire time.

Speaking after the Storm’s 28-14 loss to the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday, Smith said he will deal with the situation behind closed doors.

“It was great to win on Wednesday night and you have to adjust quickly to come back to club football,” Smith told the post-match press conference.

“But the personal stuff going around at the moment, that will be handled privately.”

Originally published as Smith and McKinnon to ‘bury hatchet’