Johns played an integral part in the club’s inaugural grand final win, delivering the final pass to winger Darren Albert who scored in the 80th-minute against Manly to sink the hearts of every Sea Eagles supporter and write Newcastle into the history books.

His brother Matthew, with whom he won the 1997 Premiership, confirmed his younger sibling failed to show his face at the festivities that continued from Friday until Sunday.

“He’s the only bloke from the ’97 side that didn’t turn up,” Matty joked with a hint of irony on his signature Fox League show.

“What about that? Can you believe that?

“He said, ‘I’ve got to work’.

“ I said, 'don’t start being responsible now'.”

Matty said Andrew’s no-show was probably the right call for all concerned.

“It was probably best he didn’t turn up,” Matty said. “ We had a great time without him.”

“It’s been 20 years since the 1997 winning grand final…you forget.

“Some of those blokes you haven’t seen for 15 years and it’s more than a bond. It’s just something really special.”