Anthony Albanese one, Andrew Johns zero.
Moments before watching his beloved New South Wales lose to Queensland in the State of Origin opener, the rugby league Immortal was already crushed.
“I had to do the pre-game (coverage), and I ran to the elevators to get up (to) the commentary box, and the security there were like, ‘The prime minister’s in there’,” Johns said on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour.
READ MORE: Blues shake-up poses awkward Latrell question
READ MORE: V’landys pins ‘obvious’ mistake on Blues trainer
READ MORE: Huni opponent’s reaction to wild drive-by theory
“(I thought), ‘I don’t give a rat’s arse. This is Origin’. (Security said), ‘It’s Albanese’. I thought, ‘So what? Has he got the Immortal card?’. That’s a joke!
Watch State of Origin exclusively live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now.
“I had to go the stairs, and then having this flu which I can’t kick, I got up to level three,” Johns added while pretending to gasp for air.
Immortal Behaviour presenter Danika Mason was stunned.
“So Anthony Albanese got a lift over the eighth Immortal,” Mason quipped with a laugh.
“I think we need to have a word to the security team.”
Stream the NRL premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
Johns joked that Albanese had a target on him.
“I’m coming for you, Albo,” he said.
“Mate, if you want support from the working class, down this level, (from) the rugby league folk.”
Johns also gave an insight into the difficult commentator-supporter balancing act.
“It’s hard,” he said.
“You love your state, you love your team. It can be quite hard. The last five minutes my stomach was just doing somersaults.”
Johns must be hoping the Blues square the series in Perth – and that he’s not brushed for the prime minister.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!