Alex Johnston reveals the Tom Trbojevic try he can’t forgive

South Sydney’s Alex Johnston will have revenge on his mind when he takes on Manly opposite Tom Trbojevic on Saturday - over a dodgy pass thrown six years ago on the Central Coast.

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South Sydney’s Alex Johnston will have revenge on his mind when takes on Manly opposite Tom Trbojevic on Saturday afternoon — over a dodgy pass thrown six years ago on the Central Coast.

While it hardly seems worthy of a page in the Rabbitohs’ Book of Feuds, it’s motivation enough for Johnston to mark down the date in the calendar whenever the two fullbacks go head to head.

“There was one time I was playing him up at Gosford and they made a break and someone passed to him. It was a forward pass by about two metres but he kept running along,” Johnston said.

“I tried to catch him and he got there in the end. They awarded the try and I said to him ‘what’s going on here, that was a forward pass’. And he just laughed at me … he knew it was a forward pass.”

Alex Johnston just can’t forget. Image: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

For Johnston, that try was more than a tiny bit of refereeing injustice, it spawned a rivalry that continues to this day.

“Since then we’ve had a cool little rivalry going. I find I want to put my best foot forward whenever I play him,” he said.

Johnston knows he’ll have to be at his absolute best if he to get one over his counterpart in their duel at Lottoland on Saturday.

The 24-year old watched in awe as Trbojevic ran riot against the New Zealand Warriors in Christchurch during his first game of the season last weekend, having missed the opening two rounds with a hamstring injury.

Trbojevic won’t get away this time. Image: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

“I saw that game. He was unbelievable, setting up tries and making linebreaks. He’s a quality player and it’ll be a good challenge seeing what I can do against him,” he said.

While Johnston believes the Sea Eagles have other threats across the park, a Manly outfit with Trbojevic at his peak is a completely different proposition, especially in attack.

The numbers back up Johnston’s fears about the prolific nature of Trbojevic’s contribution.

According to Fox Sports Lab, Trbojevic has been involved in 99 Manly tries since 2016, the most by any fullback during that period.

But it’s a feat that hardly surprises Johnston.

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“Even back then, coming up through all the grades against him, you knew he was something special. He’s been massive for the Sea Eagles. He gives them a bit of flare and that extra support he gives … he’s there at the right time. He pops up in areas and causes a lot of damage and he takes a lot of hard carries for him as well,” he said.