Former league great Andrew Johns straddled the rugby divide on Tuesday, taking charge of a joint training session with NRL club Melbourne Storm and new Super Rugby outfit Melbourne Rebels.

The champion halfback, who also works as a coaching consultant for NRL clubs Manly and Canberra, focussed on the two clubs' halves during the workout at Goschs Paddock.

With the Storm's representative stars - including playmakers Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith as well as fullback Billy Slater - still on leave after the recent Four Nations campaign, Johns was impressed with some of the club's youngsters.

And he was pleased with how the cross-code session panned out.

"It's the first time I've done it, so it's something new," said Johns.

"The philosophies and principles of halves play is very similar in both codes even though the games are very different.

"The simple principles and the basics which we concentrated on today are the same so I thought it worked in well."

The Storm agreed to let Johns also work with the Rebels on his visits to Melbourne following an approach by the Super Rugby franchise's coach Rod Macqueen to Storm football manager Frank Ponissi.

"It just makes sense that if I'm going to come down and work with one then get them both in together," said Johns.

"It was interesting to start with but I suppose it's up to the powers that be and what they think, but I think we'll be working together in the future."

The former NSW and Australian skipper no longer has any official coaching role with Newcastle, the club where he made his name as a player.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP