In one of the most unusual holiday stories to emerge from the sporting world, rugby league immortal Andrew Johns has cut short his Balinese surfing retreat after becoming convinced that local primates were actively working against him.
The eighth Immortal of rugby league, known for his legendary career with the Newcastle Knights, found himself in an unexpected standoff with what he believed to be organised troops of monkeys during his Indonesian getaway.
The Great Monkey Standoff
According to sources close to the situation, Johns became increasingly paranoid that the island's famous long-tailed macaques were deliberately targeting him and conspiring to disrupt his peaceful surfing holiday.
'He was absolutely convinced they were working together against him,' revealed an insider familiar with the bizarre situation. 'The monkeys would gather in groups, watching his movements and apparently coordinating their activities to make his stay uncomfortable.'
Premature Departure From Paradise
The tension between the sporting hero and his simian adversaries reached such heights that Johns made the drastic decision to abandon his tropical vacation entirely, packing his bags and heading home earlier than planned.
Friends of the former halfback have expressed both concern and amusement at the situation, with many noting this represents one of the more peculiar episodes in the athlete's post-retirement life.
Not Monkeying Around
While Bali's monkeys are known for their mischievous behaviour and tendency to snatch food and belongings from unsuspecting tourists, Johns' belief that they had formed a specific conspiracy against him adds a new chapter to the island's long history of human-primate interactions.
The incident has already sparked amusement among rugby league fans and travel enthusiasts alike, with many taking to social media to share their own experiences with the island's clever primates.
Johns, who remains one of the most respected figures in rugby league history, has yet to comment publicly on his early departure or his alleged simian adversaries.
