'Peas in a pod': Jones' rare bond with Johns

Matty Johns is sitting in NSW camp less than 24 hours before his Origin debut.

His halves partner all but bashes his hotel door down on a Sunday afternoon, demanding the TV be switched on to this "Warriors tearaway, this bundle of muscle and energy that's just carving up Cronulla".

So began a trans-Tasman mutual appreciation society that would last over two decades between the game's greatest ever halfback, and his heir apparent from across the ditch.