It's no easy feat to make football history within the Johns family, but Jack Johns will do just that this Sunday.
He will tread a different path to father, Matty Johns, and uncle, Andrew Johns, when he makes his international debut at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup this weekend.
The 20-year-old will represent Italy in the Azzurri’s first match against Ireland at Cairns this Sunday.
Johns said this week at their training camp the team has been getting used to Queensland’s tropical conditions.
“We have been training in the Cairns heat in the middle of the day for the last few days and I think the boys are starting to adjust well now,” Johns explained.
“A lot of sweaty bodies out there but we’re really getting used to the weather.
“Ireland have been here in Cairns for about two weeks so they have also adjusted well to the weather.”
Having played the entire 2017 season in the Knights Under 20s side, it will be baptism of fire for the young half, who has been selected as Italy’s starting halfback.
“I am pretty nervous,” admitted Johns.
“We had good preparation playing against Tonga… the size of the players gave me a lot of confidence and coming out of that game unscathed.
“Our preparation has been good and we won’t be too complacent against Ireland.”
Johns said the team will look to play a physical game to get on top of their opponents.
“We have to play through the middle and we really have to tire out their forwards because they have a pretty large forward pack from the Super League,” Johns commented."
But training alongside names like James Tedesco, Nathan Brown and Paul Vaughan, Johns’ confidence has been boosted.
“Playing with them gives you a lot of confidence going out to a match knowing that they’ve got your back,” he said.
“The non-selections for Australia for a lot of our more experienced players like Tedesco and Vaughan has given us a great team for the World Cup and the boys are really excited to go out and impress a few people.
“The boys are playing it day by day and they are just preparing for the matches like they would any other match and getting their bodies right and making sure we really peak on that Sunday.”
In his first ever World Cup match, mum Trish will be watching from the sidelines in Cairns but a whole host of friends and family will also be tuning in to cheer him on.
“I got a text from our captain (Under 20s) Zac Hosking yesterday and he told me he’ll be watching and cheering me on,” Johns said.
“That gives me a lot of confidence and gives me a bit of a boost going into a match like this.”
Johns is also looking forward to his encounter with Knights club mate Jacob Saifiti when they take on Fiji in Canberra for game three.
“I will make sure I have my mouth guard on when I come across him,” Johns joked.
“It's the one game near Sydney so I will have plenty of friends watching and I know a lot of these boys will have their families there, so I’m sure we will have a big crowd down there for us.”
All the details:
Game 1
Italy v Ireland
When: Sunday, October 29
Where: Barlow Park Cairns
Time: 2pm (AEST)
Game 2
Italy v USA
When: Sunday, November 5
Where: Townsville Stadium, Townsville
Time: 4pm (AEST)
Game 3
Italy v Fiji
When: Friday, November 10
Where: Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Time: 7:40pm (AEDT)
