Andrew Johns and Paul Vautin gave Channel 9 viewers far too much information in a bizarre post-match chat after the Roosters’ big win over Brisbane on Friday night.
The Sydney side poured on seven tries to three for the upset win at Suncorp Stadium, but the chat in the post-match wash-up raised even more eyebrows.
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It all stemmed from the 49-year-old Newcastle great’s recent, rather delicate operation, which Vautin then decided to make public on air.
We all learned Johns has undergone a vasectomy, which then became an intimate topic of conversation on the Nine Network.
It all started innocently enough, when host James Bracey made a comment to Johns in the video player you can see above, which might not be safe for young viewers.
“Andrew, you’re off to the sheds, all the best down there, we’ll be hearing from you,” Bracey said, with no idea of what was about to unfold.
“Can’t wait,” Johns replied. “I’m going to stalk (Roosters winger) Dominic Young in there.”
“I’ll bet you will,” Bracey said with a laugh. “Tear another jersey for him.”
That’s when the man known universally as “Fatty”, 64-year-old Manly and Queensland great Vautin, made the decision to bring Johns’ very personal business out into the open.
“Seeing (as) you’re out of action. You’ve had the snip,” Vautin fired at Johns, using the colloquial term for a vasectomy.
But Fatty was just warming up, swiftly referring to a looming holiday for the legendary halfback.
“Aren’t you going away next week? And you’ve had the snip,” he continued.
“It’s gonna be a dry run. Enjoy the week, it’s a long time.”
Johns, a two-time premiership winner and one of the sport’s great No. 7s, was named rugby league’s eighth “Immortal” in 2012.
Without missing a beat, Johns referenced that last honour when he declared: “First up after a spell, watch the Immortal go.”
We’ll leave you to work out what he was referring to there.
“Stop it,” Vautin replied.
Bracey, the usually measured host of Nine’s NRL coverage, then did his best to throw to a commercial break.
“Oh you two, that’s too good,” Bracey just managed to say as his voice broke among all the laughter.
“Thank you Fat, in great form as always, let’s head to the break shall we? Stay with us.”