NRL: Eels, Knights consider Johns' future

Andrew Johns’ coaching future with Parramatta and Newcastle is in doubt following his admission to a racial slur. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Parramatta are reviewing Andrew Johns' position as an assistant coach following his admission to a racial slur while his former NRL club Newcastle seek more information.

The Eels on Tuesday became the first of Johns' employers to publicly reconsider the relationship after the league great admitted he had made a disparaging comment about Queensland star Greg Inglis.

"We haven't made that decision yet," Eels CEO Paul Osborne said.

"I've spoken to (Johns' manager) John Fordham, we're going to catch up in the next couple of days."

The drama in Parramatta's relationship with Johns is heightened by the fact it was an Eels star, Timana Tahu, who walked out of the NSW State of Origin camp in protest at the Blues assistant coach's comments.

Both players' former club, Newcastle, will seek further information before deciding on Johns' future there as an assistant.

"Until we can establish all these facts, we feel it would be unfair to make any decisions on Andrew's ongoing involvement as a part-time specialist coach," Knights CEO Steve Burraston said in a statement on Tuesday.

"I have asked the relevant Knights personnel to meet with Andrew once he has had an opportunity to address his immediate issues."

Johns' other employers have so far stuck by him.

The Nine Network said earlier this week they had accepted his apology, while News Ltd has not yet made a call on whether he will continue as a columnist.

Johns' manager John Fordham told AAP: "All contracts that currently exist continue."

Austereo, the radio network Johns works for as part of Triple M's coverage of Monday night games, became the latest to back the former Blues and test great on Tuesday despite him missing this week's match.

"Austereo acknowledges Andrew Johns' apology and genuine remorse," Sydney general manager Helen Davies said in a statement.

"We continue to support him in a professional capacity and he will remain a contracted presenter on Triple M."

Johns' other Triple M programme, The Grapple, is off air during the soccer World Cup while co-presenter Tony Squires is in South Africa.

Osborne is holding out hope he can get Johns and Tahu together to sort out their differences.

"We'll try and get them together at some point," he said.

"It would be great if we could. I'll talk about that with John Fordham."

Mediation is an option supported by NRL boss David Gallop.

"(Johns) has talked to Timana, hopefully that will happen again in the next short period," Gallop told Fox Sports.

"I'd like to see them get together again and go over the issues, perhaps with a professional mediator."

Gallop said the league took the issue of racism seriously.

"We don't want to see racism in the game," he said.

"These kinds of comments are offensive and we need to educate everyone about that.

"This has been a blow when we should be talking about the lead-up to a fantastic Origin game."

- AAP