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League legend lines up with Prime Minister

Rugby league superstar Andrew Johns will join New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at the official opening of Sir Peter Leitch’s Sports Museum in Manurewa on Thursday.

Johns - one of the stars of The Footy Show - will cross the Tasman “as a mark of respect" for Sir Peter, the New Zealand Rugby League ambassador.

Considered by some to be the greatest player of all time, Johns captained the Newcastle Knights in the NRL, leading them to titles in 1997 and again in 2001. He played a club record 249 games for the Knights, and also represented Australia at two world cups, ending his career with 21 test matches.

Johns also played 23 games for New South Wales, leading his side to State of Origin triumph in 2003, but retired in 2007 after a string of injuries, including one to his neck that threatened serious spinal injury from further heavy contact.

Just a day after retiring some of the game’s greats called for him to be made an immortal of the game, and he remains one of only two players to have won the Golden Boot more than once, and is the only player to have won the Daily M for best player in the NRL three times.

“I am honoured to have him come over for the day, especially when such a legend of the game says he’s doing it as a mark of repect for me,” Sir Peter said.

Prime Minister John Key will be on hand and Sir Peter will present him with a cheque for the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, money raised by the Mad Butcher and Suburban Newspapers Community Trust, Kidney Kids will also receive a major donation, to help fund its work.

ENDS

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