Alex Johnston bags three tries as South Sydney dominate New Zealand 36-18

ALEX Johnston blitzed them and Kieran Foran looked like a shadow of his former self in South Sydney’s 36-18 win over New Zealand.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — AUGUST 18: Alex Johnston of the Rabbitohs celebrates with his team mate Cody Walker of the Rabbitohs after scoring a try during the round 24 NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the New Zealand Warriors at ANZ Stadium on August 18, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

IT WAS a sorry sight seeing Alex Johnston and Kieran Foran hobble off ANZ Stadium at the same time.

Johnston had just bagged a third try to seal South Sydney’s 36-18 win over the New Zealand Warriors when he immediately clutched at his hamstring.

The in-form flyer took his season tally to 22 tries, and only needed one more try in the next fortnight to draw level with Nathan Merritt’s modern-day club record.

What a shame it will be if Johnston is sidelined for the road trip to Melbourne and final-round clash against Parramatta.

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As Johnston was assisted down the sideline with a Souths trainer, Foran looked in all sorts of trouble just behind him.

The big-money five-eighth could barely run the final 10 minutes when he copped a heavy knock after a kick. He had battled a shoulder injury coming into the game.

You’d have to think the next time Foran is sighted in the NRL it will be with Canterbury.

“It’s the back,’’ Foran said afterwards, as he tried to board the team bus in pain.

“I landed awkwardly on the bottom of my back (after that kick), so I’m in a bit of pain at the moment.’’

Foran was unsure if he had played his final game for the Warriors, and said: “I will get the doc to assess me when I get back to the hotel and go from there.

“It’s been difficult. It’s hard when we’re on a losing run like this, confidence is low, but we’re sticking together and hanging in there.

The Rabbitohs earned their third straight win.

“We just have to try and turn it around somehow.’’

Souths have had no problems turning it around as they marched to their third straight win. The 6213 fans at ANZ Stadium felt more like 6250 when Johnston blew off Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to score in the left corner six minutes out from time before he clutched at his right hamstring.

Johnston’s 22 tries moved him three clear of Melbourne’s Suliasi Vunivalu (18), who gets his chance to make up some ground against Newcastle later today. He could still finish the season’s top try-scorer.

Johnston deserves it. He deserves to at least level Merritt’s personal best 23 tries set in 2011.

Foran looked a shadow of his former self.

John Sutton had the pleasure of playing with Merritt and Johnston, and said of the pair: “Nath had a more of a knack of being where ball is, while AJ has that speed when he gets the ball - he can blow players (away). They’re two great finishers.’’

Johnston will undergo scans and is long odds to play against Melbourne next Saturday.

Sam Burgess, who wanted to play but was over-ruled by Maguire, is Winx-like odds to take on the Storm.

Souths won’t be pushovers. Their young kids have a dig.

Johnston scored a fine treble.

Cameron Murray bagged his first NRL try, teenage winger Campbell Graham produced some decent whacks in defence, and Angus Crichton is a star in the making who you hope isn’t ever tempted to return to rugby.

Throw in the return of Greg Inglis and the signing of Dane Gagai, and suddenly Souths are back as serious premiership contenders.

If only we didn’t have to see Johnston and Foran hobble off early.

SOUTH SYDNEY 36 (A Johnston 3 C Murray A Reynolds C Walker tries A Reynolds 6 goals) bt NZ WARRIORS 18 (R Tuivasa-Sheck 2 S Mannering tries I Luke 3 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Chris Butler, Chris Sutton. Crowd: 6,213