Controversy: Andrew Johns, pictured at Toowoomba Airport. Credit:Facebook / Helen Wright I've known and written about Johns for almost two decades, but even writing that last paragraph weirds me out. It perfectly sums up the unpredictable life of the kid from Cessnock, who turned out to be the best footballer on the planet. Last Friday, at about 6.30am, I bumped into Joey outside the Triple M studios in the city. He'd just delivered his grand final verdict. He was rushing to the airport to get to Toowoomba for a function he was attending. But we talked long enough for him to explain how he had not consumed alcohol for two months. The reason is the strong antibiotics he has been prescribed to combat a severe toenail infection. He has told friends that he consumed "eight to 10" beers throughout the day, before the encounter with Wright at Toowoomba Airport.

Johns' alleged behaviour and remarks directed at Wright are indefensible. He has apologised – although he denies "passing out" on the floor as suggested. Other passengers have since taken to social media to report Johns was well behaved and forthcoming with signatures and photos with other fans. On Saturday, he was said to be contrite but adamant he was going to be a part of Nine's grand final coverage. If you've been watching closely enough, you'll notice that Johns has taken his commentary to another level in the past two months. It appears the decision to stand him down came from Nine boss David Gyngell, who has had to deal with issues with several stars in recent months, including Brett Finch, Beau Ryan and also the AFL version of The Footy Show, which has been accused of sexist behaviour from stars Sam Newman and Billy Brownless. In some respects, Johns should consider himself fortunate that his future was secured before this latest incident.

A fortnight ago, it was revealed that he had joined the Roosters coaching staff after he lost his consultancy role at Manly. Gyngell is no longer a director of the club, but remains a heavy-hitter because he is a close friend of chairman Nick Politis. Johns was seriously weighing up the offer from Fox Sports. The negotiations were not with Delany, but head of programming Gary Burns, who knows Johns from their days together at Nine. Electric: Cold Chisel perform ahead of the 2015 NRL grand final. Photo: Getty Images Credit:Getty Images CHISEL FEATURES The happiest person at the NRL grand final wasn't Johnathan Thurston, but chief executive Dave Smith.

Your humble correspondent bumped into Smith directly after Cold Chisel had belted out four of their best songs for the crowd at ANZ Stadium like it was the Sydney Entertainment Centre in 1983. (Their last gig before breaking up). Smith was with Arthur Summons, the great Wests captain who makes up half the premiership trophy with former St George captain Norm Provan. "How good was that?" Smith beamed, before adding how much work had been put in behind the scenes at League Central to make it a special event. Credit where it's due: the build-up to this grand final was unprecedented. NRL Nation at Darling Harbour had no less than 60,000 people stream through it in just two days, with bigger plans afoot for next year.

Personally, I'd like to see Chisel booked for the decider for the next decade. Or they should throw the bank at Tina Turner to make a comeback. Whatever happens now, the NRL cannot slip back into pre-match entertainment mediocrity. RABBITOHS MOVING ON We told you last week of the powder-keg at Souths as fingers are pointed over the prescription drugs overdose saga concerning players Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray. But members were given reason to believe for next season and beyond, with coach Michael Maguire telling them at a grand final luncheon last week about his close relationship with Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson.

The Hawks won the flag under Clarkson in 2008. It took them another five years of rebuilding before he transformed them into a premiership side again. Their win over the West Coast in last Saturday's grand final was their third premiership in a row. Maguire's goal, he told members, was to replicate that type of dynasty. Meanwhile, Gray was soaking up the rays a week after being released from hospital with girlfriend Tiana Penitani, who is a star for Australia's womens' rugby Sevens team and is expected to compete at the Rio Olympics. Penitani posted an Instagram photo of the happy couple on a boat somewhere in the middle of Port Stephens last Saturday.

RUNNING MANNY Boxing great Manny Pacquiao has postponed his upcoming "Manny Downunder" tour of Australia in November because he is running for the Philippine Senate. A Team Pacquiao spokesman said: "Manny is disappointed he cannot visit Australia due to his commitment to run for the 2016 election of the Philippine Senate. We are working together to plan a three-day visit to Sydney later this year or early next year when a suitable time for Manny becomes available." A new itinerary is being explored with Pacquiao set to visit Sydney in the coming months. New Sydney dates will be released soon and full refunds for the November events will be issued.

LEGEND FAREWELLED Sports journalism legend Mike Gibson was given a fitting farewell at a North Sydney Oval bathed in sunlight last Friday. The old scoreboard carried his name. The speeches from members of his family, his former Wide World of Sports co-host Ian Chappell, journalist Paul Kent, funnyman Billy Birmingham and the Herald's Peter FitzSimons were superb. Kent told a couple of crackers about how a young Kerry Packer - whose father Frank owned The Daily Telegraph - asked the young greyhound reporter where he should invest his $20,000 to pull him out of a betting hole.

There was also the yarn that shows what type of man Gibson was. Alan Bond, who had recently bought Channel Nine from Packer, noticed the garish jumper Gibson was wearing as he hosted the network's coverage of the Winter Olympics in Calgary in 1988. Bond's PA called Gibson and said Mr Bond wanted the jumper. Gibbo said he only had two. "He wants it to wear," said the PA.

"You can tell him," said Gibbo, "he's not getting either of them." CHEIKA KEEPS THE CHAMPAGNE ON ICE There was an understandably buoyant mood in the Wallabies dressing-room at Twickenham last Sunday morning. In fact, if you squinted enough you might've thought it was the Cocktails and Dreams bar from the 1980s movie Cocktail.

"What the?" I hear you say. Well, that's because Aussie actor Bryan Brown - who starred in the movie alongside Tom Cruise - was there, slapping backs in the afterglow of Australia's glorious victory over England. Alongside him was fellow thespian Sam Neill, he of Dead Calm fame who is a Kiwi and supports - funnily enough - the All Blacks. Our Wallabies snouts report that the celebrations after bundling the old enemy and host nation out of the tournament were "tame". In rugby league, that could mean getting home at 10am the next morning. In rah-rah, it means getting up early to watch the NRL grand final on the box before heading off to recovery. Understand this: coach Michael Cheika is far from done with this tournament. He is timing his side's run with Cummings-like precision. Bring on the Welsh on Sunday morning.

As for England, how ridiculous that former South Sydney star Sam Burgess - who has been used spasmodically at this tournament - is being fingered for England's failure. We'd like him to stick at the 15-man code. We're thinking the fat contract he's on at Bath will mean he's going nowhere anyway. What we have been told is that England rugby merchandise has been seen around London in "40 per cent off" bargain bins. THE QUOTE "They threw rocks at Jesus, and Jesus was an excellent guy who did a lot of awesome stuff." - Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett wasn't happy with criticism of his quarterback, Jay Cutler.

THUMBS UP Johnathan Thurston gifted the Broncos their second try, got tackled on the fourth twice in the second half, threw balls behind teammates, kicked straight to the Broncos fullback and wingers, and his missed sideline conversion was just plain ugly. But if he doesn't throw himself at the Broncos like he did with 20 minutes to go, they don't win the premiership. THUMBS DOWN We're all for players getting the money they deserve, but the stalling tactics of the Professional Footballers Australia on the eve of the A-League season has been grubby stuff. Until the code can attract big dollars from its broadcast deal, the cash simply isn't there. We'd suggest the PFA know this, instead positioning itself as the self-styled leader of the opposition. It's a big weekend for ... Mount Panorama, which will be the scene of the iconic Bathurst 1000. Spectators have been burying cartons of grog all over that mountain in recent years. We are worried about a possible sinkhole.

It's an even bigger weekend for ... Las Vegas. The City of Lights has seen off many touring parties in its time, but let's see what state it's in after the North Queensland Cowboys hit town. Mike Tyson should lock up his Bengal tiger now.