- Cooper Johns could be the host of new footy show in the US
NRL player turned media star Cooper Johns has reportedly been earmarked to host a new footy show in the US incorporating NFL, college football and the NRL.
It comes after Johns, 26, quit the Kyle and Jackie O Show on KIIS FM in January to pursue ‘other opportunities which pay more.’
Johns joined the network in 2024 as a producer following his ‘retirement’ from the NRL, which included stints with the Melbourne Storm and Manly Sea Eagles.
He played a total of 19 first-grade games dating back to 2020.
Currently in Las Vegas with his father Matty Johns – the face of Fox League – and older brother Jack, the former five-eighth has become a fan favourite in recent years.
Leading into the double-header at Allegiant Stadium this weekend, Johns will interview a host of NRL stars from the Bulldogs, Dragons, Knights and Cowboys for Sportsbet in addition to his podcast commitments.
Cooper Johns has reportedly been earmarked to host a new footy show in the US incorporating NFL, college football and the NRL
It comes after Johns, 26, quit the Kyle and Jackie O Show on KIIS FM in January to pursue ‘other opportunities which pay more’
And now it can be revealed Aussie expat Ray Simmons will look to pitch a US-style footy show to executives from Fox Sports.
‘You’ve not only got the NRL in Las Vegas at the moment, but you’ve also got the NFL looking to grow itself globally, too,’ he told News Corp.
‘So why not create a program that combines the two? Someone like Cooper Johns would be the perfect fit.’
Simmons – who was a producer for the State of Origin exhibition match played in Long Beach, California in 1987 – also believes Fox star Jake Duke or Storm legend Cooper Cronk would be equally capable hosts.
Meanwhile, Johns is likely to be on his best behaviour in Sin City after his prank gone wrong with Raiders star Hudson Young last February.
The footy larrikin was filming content for Sportsbet at the Fan Fest on Fremont Street when he approached Young, who was involved in an altercation with Canberra teammate Morgan Smithies days earlier.
The incident in a hotel lift resulted in a scuffle between the pair involving an inflatable baseball bat, which Johns poked fun at in his clip.
Cooper Johns was in the NRL’s bad books in Las Vegas last year following a prank gone wrong with Raiders star Hudson Young and an inflatable baseball bat
‘We are not going to ask you anything about the elevator stuff,’ Johns assured Young while on camera, at the same time holding a Simpsons inflatable bat.
Seconds later, the cheeky former NRL star deliberately went against his word, asking: ‘So who won the elevator fight?’
A diplomatic Young responded with: ‘Don’t know what you are talking about mate.’
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was also unimpressed, stating: ‘It’s each to their own and the types of ways they want to do their ,’ he said at the time.