Cooper Johns: Why He Quit NRL, Radio Career & What He Does Now

Cooper Johns grew up as the son of a rugby league legend, played 19 NRL games for the Melbourne Storm, then did something his father never did: he walked away from the footy field entirely at age 24 to try his hand at commercial radio. It was a gamble that made headlines – first for his abrupt exit from Kyle and Jackie O’s show, then for his move across town to 2GB, a story of how a young halfback traded the leather pigskin for a microphone.

Full name: Cooper Johns ·
Born: 14 July 1999 (age 25) ·
NRL club: Melbourne Storm ·
Position: Five-eighth / Halfback ·
Father: Matty Johns ·
Brother: Jack Johns

Here are the key facts about Cooper Johns.

Why did Cooper Johns stop playing?

His abrupt NRL departure

On 15 January 2024, Cooper Johns announced he was stepping away from professional rugby league to pursue a career in radio. In a social media post quoted by The Roar (Australian sports news outlet), he wrote that he was swapping the “leather pig skin for a microphone.” The announcement came after four seasons with the Melbourne Storm, where he had made 19 NRL appearances, mostly as a backup five-eighth. He had also been contracted with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles for the 2024 season.

• What he said: “To my family, get f–ked” — a line that became the headline-grabber, but which he later explained was a joke at his own expense.
• What he didn’t say: He gave no specific reason for leaving footy. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that he had turned down offers to play in England’s Super League, suggesting the decision was about a lifestyle change, not a lack of options.

Manly CEO Tony Mestrov told Yahoo Sport Australia (Australian sports news site) he had not been formally informed of Johns’s retirement, but wished him well if it was true.

“I had not been formally informed of his retirement, but if it’s true, I wish him well.”

— Tony Mestrov, Manly CEO, as quoted by Yahoo Sport Australia

The ‘To my family, get f–ked’ statement

The now-famous “get f–ked” line was part of a longer Instagram post where Johns explained his decision to quit. In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian broadsheet newspaper), he said the remark was directed at himself and his family — a self-deprecating way of acknowledging how bizarre the career switch sounded. The implication: Cooper knew he was giving up a stable NRL contract for an uncertain radio gig, and he was okay with it.

The catch: The statement also reflected a deeper tension. Johns said he was motivated by the chance to go head-to-head with his father, Matty Johns, who co-hosts a rival morning show on KIIS FM. “I want to take him down,” he told the Herald. “That’s the goal.”

Why did Cooper Johns quit Kyle and Jackie O?

Live on-air resignation

Barely months after joining KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O Show, Cooper Johns announced his departure live on air in 2024. According to reports from Yahoo Sport Australia, he stated it was his “last day” without giving advance notice to producers. Kyle Sandilands had previously said on air that Johns had been “secured” for the show, but the young host’s exit was abrupt.

Reasons behind the split

The exact reasons for his departure remain unclear. Some reports (Sydney Morning Herald) suggested tensions with co-hosts over creative direction. Others speculated that the role — mostly doing traffic, weather, and banter — wasn’t a good fit for someone who wanted to talk serious rugby league. Johns himself has not publicly detailed any falling-out.

The pattern: Johns’s radio career followed a similar trajectory to his NRL one — brief, headline-grabbing, then an equally sudden exit.

What does Cooper Johns do now?

Role at 2GB

As of mid-2024, Cooper Johns is a listed contributor on 2GB’s Continuous Call Team roster (Australian talk radio network). He joins a lineup that includes rugby league heavyweights Paul Gallen, Mark Geyer, Mark Riddell, and Josh Morris. His role appears to be as a regular panellist during the NRL season, offering match analysis and banter.

Podcast and other ventures

Johns co-hosts the podcast “Backstage with Cooper & Matty Johns,” which he runs alongside his father. The show covers rugby league, media, and father-son dynamics. A Fox Sports video package from January 2024 described his move as a “shock career change,” but the pivot to podcasting suggests Johns is building a long-term media career rather than a short-term stunt.

Why this matters: If Johns had simply quit footy for a radio gig and then blown it, the story would be a cautionary tale. Instead, his move to 2GB and the podcast show a deliberate strategy: he wants to be a rugby league media personality, not a former player making guest appearances.

Are Jack Johns and Cooper Johns brothers?

Their relationship and family

Yes, Jack Johns and Cooper Johns are brothers. Both are sons of Matty Johns, the former Newcastle Knights five-eighth and current media personality. According to Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia), the brothers grew up in Sydney in a household steeped in rugby league culture.

Jack’s NRL career

Jack Johns followed a similar path to Cooper: he played for the Newcastle Knights and later the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, though injuries limited his appearances. Like Cooper, he eventually left the NRL to pursue other interests. The two brothers are known to be close, and Cooper has frequently mentioned Jack in interviews as a sounding board for his career decisions.

What this means: Cooper’s career choices have been influenced by his brother’s similar path.

Who is Cooper Johns’ father?

Matty Johns: NRL legend and media personality

Matty Johns is one of the most recognisable figures in Australian rugby league. He played for the Newcastle Knights from 1992 to 2002, winning two premierships (1997, 2001) and representing New South Wales in State of Origin. After retiring, he moved into broadcasting, co-hosting The Matty Johns Show on Fox Sports and currently co-hosting a morning show on KIIS FM. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Cooper has said his father’s shadow motivated him to build his own career — first on the field, and now in radio.

What this means: Cooper didn’t just leave footy for radio; he entered his father’s world. The father-son dynamic — competitive, public, and deeply marketable — is central to Cooper’s brand as a media personality.

“I want to take him down. That’s the goal.”

— Cooper Johns, speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, on the motivation to compete with his father Matty Johns in morning radio

“To my family, get f–ked. I’m swapping the leather pig skin for a microphone.”

— Cooper Johns, Instagram post quoted by The Roar

Timeline: Cooper Johns’ career moves

The chronology of his career shifts is as follows.

Related coverage: Cooper Johns’ career shift fördjupar bilden av Cooper Johns: Why He Quit NRL and Radio – Career Changes Explained.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Kieran Foran: Son Death, Wife, Career, Age, Height & Coaching — Another NRL player’s journey through personal tragedy and career transitions.
• Daniel Ricciardo: What Happened, F1 Exit & 2025 Retirement — A different kind of sports star stepping away from elite competition.

Cooper Johns’ career trajectory remains a work in progress, but his ability to pivot between footy and radio shows adaptability.