Inside Andrew Johns' never-dull life away from the field as footy legend calls the cops after allegedly being stalked

A clean diet and plenty of movement are key to healthy living for Andrew Johns, with the footy legend's idyllic post-footy lifestyle disrupted by an alleged stalker late last month.

The Channel 9 commentator went to the police after encountering a 27-year-old man over the course of a couple of days in March. The man has since been charged with stalking and will undergo a mental health assessment. 

Johns, 49, first saw the man while surfing at Bronte beach. The man stood in the water and stared at the NSW Blues legend for an extended period of time before being seen again outside Johns's luxurious home.

The footy great then saw the same man again the following day at his local cafe, prompting him to call the police.

'A man has been charged following an investigation by officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command into the alleged stalking of a 49-year-old man,' a NSW Police spokesperson said.

'On Sunday 31 March 2024, a 27-year-old man was charged with stalking and refused bail.

'He appeared before Parramatta Local Court yesterday (1 April 2024) and was granted bail.'

Barring the unwanted encounter, Johns lives a peaceful life in Sydney's Bronte, where he regularly does yoga and surfs to keep himself in top condition.

After retiring from footy, Johns admits he enjoyed too many beers and bad food, but has since overhauled his lifestyle.

'When I first retired, because I'd been playing and training for 20 years, I wanted to have a break, but I found the less active I was the worse I felt,' he told News Corp.

'And even though I wasn't training as intensely my food intake was still really high and I was eating all the wrong foods, so I put on a bit of weight.

'It wasn't until I looked at what and when I was eating that I got back down to my normal weight and I've pretty much stayed there since. Once you get the right head on and eat the right foods you really see the results.'

Johns says yoga in particular has kept him disciplined and helped his mental health.

'I always thought yoga was for girls but now I wish I'd done more of it when I was playing. Physically it's great for my body, especially with all the injuries I've had, but mentally it's even better — it really clears my mind.

'It keeps me in check too. If I know I'm doing yoga in the morning I behave myself the night before — within reason.'

Johns has also recently discovered the benefits of medicinal cannabis, insisting it has changed his life since retiring and has implored more footy stars to use it. 

'For me, I've been quite vocal on it because it's deadset changed my life, I went on it four of five years ago because of the seizures I developed, which may have contributed from the concussions,' he said on Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.

'Since I've been taking it, I'm seizure free, but I'm still taking a traditional medication for that but I'm as clear as I've ever been.

'Physically for my body, I don't take anti-inflammatories anymore and I don't take pain killers which, with my personality, I shouldn't have pain killers in the house.

'For me it's been a game changer, I surf sometimes three, four hours a day - I wake up and there's no inflammation, it takes away all the inflammation.'

It all makes for a calming life away from the commentary box, and Johns has an enviable view of Bronte Beach from his $2.8million home in Sydney's east.

The stylish home, overlooks Bronte Beach and has three bedrooms, one for himself and each of his two sons. 

The apartment also boasts large floor to ceiling windows with panoramic views, hardwood floors and private lift access. 

The expansive kitchen is complete with white cupboards and a marble counter top, with room for three stools and a breakfast nook.

A patio and outdoor space sits off the mater bedroom, accessible via sliding doors.

Johns played for New South Wales Blues for 23 State of Origin matches and was captain of the Newcastle Knights.

He has also represented Australia twice in the World Cup and is considered as one of the greatest Australian rugby league players of all time.

Johns has a long-term partner, Kate Kendall. The pair have been dating since 2016. He has a fractured relationship with his brother, Matty, after they fell out over State of Origin a couple of years ago.