The Newcastle Knights halfback steered his side to victory in last year's Grand Final and was a key player in the Ashes win over Great Britain at the end of 2001.

The 27-year-old star, nicknamed 'Joey', will receive the Golden Boot when the Knights venture to England for the World Club Challenge against Bradford Bulls on 1 February.

Johns first won the award, voted for by Australian, British and New Zealand journalists, in 1999.

He has been in the Australian team as either halfback or hooker since 1995 and won the first of his two premiership medals in 1997, when he inspired his team to a last-gasp win over Manly.

He was Newcastle's captain against Parramatta in last year's decider in front of 92,000 fans at Stadium Australia, also picking up the Clive Churchill medal.

Four other Knights were selected in their World XIII, which was dominated by Australians.

Only one Briton - St Helens hooker Keiron Cunningham - and one Kiwi - front-row forward Nathan Cayless - made the line-up.

Team: Darren Lockyer (fullback), Adam MacDougall (wing), Matthew Gidley (centre), Trent Barrett (five-eighth), Andrew Johns (halfback), Brad Fittler (lock), Ben Kennedy (second-row), Shane Webcke (prop), Lote Tiqiri (wing), Jamie Lyon (centre), Nathan Hindmarsh (second-row), Nathan Cayless (front-row) and Keiron Cunningham (hooker).