For a time, Andrew Johns meant the world to Newcastle. To many, he still does.
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Most fans don't forget sporting heroes who win their team titles and bring them joy through brilliant performances.
"When he was good, the town was happy; when he was down, we went down with him," Karlo Tychsen said.
Karlo and Andrew Hughes are leading a campaign for a bronze statue of Andrew Johns outside McDonald Jones Stadium.
They've set up a GoFundMe page with the aim of raising $50,000 to fund the statue.
"One great thing about this project has been going back and looking at the footage and the way that he played," Karlo said.
"That thrill and excitement to see him move the ball around, to make that tackle, to put in that kick. Every time you went to a home game, it was like 'what's he gonna do today?'"
Karlo gets goosebumps watching video of Johns "tearing the Sydney Roosters apart in 2001 and scoring this brilliant individual try".
"You hear Peter Sterling say, 'he is the best that I've ever seen'."
Karlo first went to watch the Newcastle Knights as a boy in the club's opening season in 1988.
"My father took me to every home game that season," he said.
"We weren't very good. We were good when Andrew Johns came along."
Karlo was surprised that no one had previously campaigned for a Johns statue.
"The best player the game has ever seen came from this region. It shocks me that we don't make a bigger deal about it," he said.
As well as winning two premierships with the Knights and starring for Australia and NSW, Johns' honours include being named the halfback of the century and the eighth immortal.
"There is a statue of Wally Lewis in Brisbane and there's going to be one of Johnathan Thurston in Townsville," Karlo said.
Johns does have the eastern grandstand named after him, which Karlo said was "a great honour and a wonderful tribute".
But he said a statue of Johns would be a "Newcastle landmark".
"We as a city should have a place to pay tribute to the fact that the greatest rugby league player of all time is one of our own," Karlo said.
Andrew Hughes added: "We love Joey - we want something for our kids and future generations to take inspiration from".
Karlo said the statue would attract visitors wanting a photo with it. He urged businesses and citizens to contribute to the campaign.
More than 800 people have backed the statue plan on a change.org petition. About $3000 has already been raised on the GoFundMe page.
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