Champion halfback Andrew Johns has already found Brian Smith's coaching style different to Michael Hagan's, but not necessarily worse.

Johns had played his past six seasons under Hagan at Newcastle, before Hagan traded places with Smith at Parramatta for the 2007 season.

"It's been a different (pre-season) under the new coach. Not as intense as last year - especially not with the volume of running," Johns said after a completely unrelated net session with the NSW cricket team.

"We're doing a lot of different sort of stuff.

"We haven't done as much running as last year, but a lot more contact work and wrestling and that sort of stuff.

"He's a great educator, Brian Smith. I don't know about the other guys, but me personally, I've learned a whole lot more.

"I'm not saying either (Hagan's or Smith's) way is right but I'm enjoying it."

The 32-year-old has been plagued by injury in the past few seasons, often before or during the finals series.

"The body feels OK. I had a minor operation on the elbow but it's come back 100 per cent now," Johns said.

"So I'm looking forward to the start of the year."

The former Kangaroos and NSW skipper is signed with the Knights until the end of 2007, with an option of continuing through to 2008, and maintains he will not make any further decision on his career until mid-2007.

"I'm just trying to get through the off-season at this stage," he said.

Johns will mix footballs with cricket balls over the summer, after agreeing to play two Twenty20 matches for the NSW Blues in January.

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