Andrew Johns cleared of injury
10.00pm Sunday
Newcastle captain Andrew Johns has been cleared of any facial fractures but is still likely to miss next Friday's NRL clash with St George Illawarra after being knocked out in the Knights' amazing 25-24 win over the Bulldogs today.
Johns was unconscious for two minutes after being felled by a Sonny Bill Williams high shot in just the fourth minute of the round one clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Williams was sent off by referee Tony Archer after Johns lay motionless face down on the turf for more than five minutes before being stretchered off wearing a neck brace.
While cleared of a neck injury, the champion halfback was rushed to John Hunter Hospital for X-rays.
Knights team doctor Peter McGeoch said Johns was cleared of facial fractures, but would probably miss next week because of his concussion.
"He's had an X-ray of his cheekbone and there's no sign of a fracture, so it's just a matter of him getting over his concussive injuries," said McGeoch.
"You tend to find with worst concussions it takes people longer to recover from them, and you've got to completely recover from your concussion before you can play again.
"When he went off to hospital he was still pretty out of it."
McGeoch said he expected Johns would be sent home from hospital tonight.
In giving Williams his marching orders, referee Archer said: "Straight in the face, knocked him out, you're off."
The 18,791-strong crowd watched on in silence as Johns received on-field medical attention, but as he was being taken off Knights supporters began to scream "off, off" as Archer called out Williams.
There had been fears the Newcastle superstar may have suffered yet another serious injury.
In 2005, Johns was sidelined for six weeks after breaking his jaw, having missed all but three games of the 2004 season following a knee reconstruction.
A neck injury in round 19 ended his 2003 season after a broken back cut short his 2002 finals campaign.
Johns was also out for several weeks in 2001 with torn medial ligaments
