In a rare display of unity, rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns has joined his former wife, Cathrine Mahoney, to mark a significant family milestone: their son Louis securing a development contract with an NRL club.
A Family Celebration for a Budding Star
The proud parents came together in Newcastle after their 16-year-old son, Louis Byron Johns, signed a development deal with the Sydney Roosters. The teenager is slated to play in the Harold Matthews Cup under-17s competition for the Bondi-based club in 2026.
Mahoney shared a photograph of the reunion on Instagram, captioning it: 'Proud parents post. There aren't many people I'd drive up and back to Newcastle in a day for but Louis Byron I wouldn't have missed it.' She humorously added, 'Tipping you're set to be taller than your folks any day now.'
Navigating a High-Profile Past
Johns and Mahoney were married from 2007 to 2014, and their separation became publicly scrutinised when Mahoney released her memoir, Currently Between Husbands, in 2022. In the book, she offered a frank and often humorous insight into the pressures that contributed to their split, notably the toll of constant public scrutiny.
'I'd get exhausted sometimes being with Andrew because you'd have to smile all the time – usually when you were in the middle of a big argument,' Mahoney revealed. She reflected on the universal realities of life that fame often obscures, stating celebrities 'still have to be "on" the whole bloody time.'
Reflecting later, Mahoney said, 'When a marriage ends, you shove it all in a box... But unpacking it six years later, you realise time heals... I was bonkers crazy in love with Andrew, and he was with me. It just didn't last the course.'
New Chapters and Supportive Fans
Andrew Johns has since moved on, marrying Kate Kendall in a secret ceremony in Bali in 2024. The couple have a daughter, Alice. Johns also has a son, Samuel, from his first marriage to Renae Chapman.
The amicable meeting was warmly received by rugby league fans online. One supporter commented, 'Louis is such a nice combo of you both,' while another welcomed the youngster to the Roosters. However, the news elicited a mixed reaction from fans of Johns' former club, the Newcastle Knights, where he delivered two premierships in 1997 and 2001.
'This hurts my Newcastle soul,' one fan lamented, with another pleading, 'Keep him in Newcastle knights colours please.' Johns, however, has publicly stated he has 'moved on' from the Hunter region, now residing in Sydney and ruling out a coaching return to Newcastle.
The moment underscores how family pride can bridge past divisions, as both parents focus on supporting their son's first major step into the world of professional rugby league.
