Immortal Andrew Johns has made the stunning admission that a series of concussions and head knocks during his playing career could have been a factor in being diagnosed with a form of epilepsy.
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Johns, regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, has waged a largely private health battle in recent years after first suffering a seizure while in the Channel Nine commentary box during a finals game in Canberra in 2016.
And for the first time he has talked of the potential links between the effects of head knocks and his diagnosis with mild frontal lobe epilepsy, which has resulted in an increase in his medication in recent months after two serious seizures.
The 44-year-old is not allowed to drive and can only surf with a companion after recently seeing specialists in Melbourne to get to the bottom of his condition.
In a candid interview with his brother Matthew on Fox League on Sunday night, Johns spoke of the potential links between the brutality of his rugby league playing days and his medical condition.
"They think maybe a contributor could be some of the concussions I've had and ... continual head knocks," Johns said of his epilepsy diagnosis.
"I was scared before I had these final scans. Every time something goes wrong you Google it and it comes up the worst case scenario, but the doctors and professors I'm seeing ... they're saying your medication levels are right and you're going to live a normal life."
The issue of concussion has been a burning topic in recent years with the NRL strengthening its protocols in the handling of head knocks, including ruling teams must have two doctors at each game this season and placing independent spotters in the crowd to monitor players suffering from head trauma.
At least three players - including former representative winger James McManus - have started legal action against the handling of their head injuries during their playing days.
The Sydney Morning Herald revealed last week the first of those has been finalised after a case brought by former Sharks forward Reece Williams against former medical staff at the club had been dropped.
Johns estimated he had suffered seizures on average once every two months for the past three years, but smashed his head on the floor of a Yamba café over summer in his most significant turn yet.
Johns was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder early in his career in the late 1990s.
"I thought I was a weak and a failure," he said.
"There were times when I couldn't get out of bed. You don't want to look at anyone, you don't want to talk to anyone and it's really hard to deal with. People don't understand it until you're going through it.
"There's been times where I've had to put the face on and act with the job I've got and profile [now as a Channel Nine commentator] ... people expect me to be Joey the person. Deep down I just want to lie in my room and not talk to anyone.
"My big medication is the ocean and I try to go and surf as much as I can."
