Alex Johnston urged to make his own piece of rugby league history in emotional letter from Ken Irvine’s brother

Alex Johnston is just six tries behind Ken Irvine’s try scoring record, and the South Sydney ace has received an emotional letter urging him on to greatness penned by someone who knew Ken best.

The brother of legendary winger Ken Irvine has sent an emotional letter to Alex Johnston urging the South Sydney winger to set a try scoring record that will stand for the next 50 years.

Peter Irvine, 75, the younger brother of the late, great Ken, also wrote: “In this era of physical giants, you stand out as a player very much like Ken.”

Johnston sits on 206 tries, six behind equalling Irvine, whose 212-try record has stood since retiring after Manly’s 1973 grand final win.

Irvine, who passed away from leukaemia in 1990 aged just 50, played 236 games for Norths and Manly, the same amount of matches Johnston has currently played at Souths.

Johnston, 30, has a chance to edge closer to Irvine’s 52-year record in Friday night’s big game against Penrith at CommBank Stadium.

Peter shared his email with this masthead after sending it to Johnston on Wednesday.

Peter Irvine's letter to Alex Johnston.

It read in part: “I have watched a lot of rugby league over the years.

“However, one of my most exciting memories was going to the airport as a 10-year-old to watch my brother fly out as a 19-year-old Kangaroo.

“Ken was only 173cm and 78 kgs, but was blessed with great speed and acceleration. He also had very good hands.

“In this era of physical giants, you stand out as a player very much like Ken.

“Your ability to be in position all the time, your handling ability, your speed off the mark and the ease in which you finish off a great backline movement is so typical of him.

Peter Irvine's letter to Alex Johnston.

“I am also very impressed with your attitude to scoring tries, no need for major theatrics, just a realisation that a move, planned or otherwise, has come off - job done.

“The breaking of Ken’s record is a great achievement. I don’t think that Ken would have thought the record would have stood this long.

“I just want to finish by saying that Ken would have been happy to hand over his record to a proud indigenous man, who displays similar attitudes to life and football, as his own.

“I hope that you can finish off your career (by) adding a lot more tries and setting a record that will stand for another 50 years. Congratulations and good luck for the last hurdle. Regards, Peter Irvine.”

In a further interview with this masthead, Peter revealed he has followed Johnston’s South Sydney since Norths were ejected from top-flight footy in 1999.

Asked what he thought Ken would say to Alex, Peter said: “He’d say: ‘Well done, mate’. Ken was a man of few words. Records are there to be broken. We could see it coming.

“There have been a lot of people in the mix to do it, but I’m very proud of Alex. For whatever reason, he’s unbeatable.

Ken Irvine’s brother, Peter. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“Alex finishes off so well. He has some good players inside him. Cody (Walker) and Latrell (Mitchell) play to Alex all the time. When they get it right, they get it right.

“Since Norths were thrown out, Souths have been our go-to team so I’m very happy about it. Ken wasn’t an acrobat or six foot tall - he was only five foot eight inches - but he was a great finisher and was as fast as lightning.”

Last year, when asked about Irvine, Johnston said: “To score 212 tries, you’ve got to be a freak. It’s a big record, so to be closing in is pretty special.

On top of his 212 tries in the NSWRL, Irvine scored 40 tries from his 36 Tests for Australia.

“Rugby league started in 1908 – I can’t believe it, it’s pretty crazy when you think about it.”

After 178 games as a Bear between 1958 and 1971, Irvine left for Manly, where he helped the Sea Eagles win successive titles in 1972 and 1973.

Irvine scored 171 tries for Bears and a further 41 at Brookvale.

“I am very proud (of the Irvine name),” Peter said.

“I’m not exactly sure of why Ken left Norths, but Roy Francis (Bears coach between 1968 and 1970) was there at the time and I think Ken just fell out with Roy.

“Roy took over both first and second grade.

“But that didn’t agree with the old way that Norths ran. Roy took over as ‘I am the boss’ and that didn’t sit well with Kenny or with Norths directors and selectors.

“So Ken was pushed over (to Manly) for a couple of years.

“He had a $10,000 house built for him in Forestville as part of his contract. Ken also knew all the Manly blokes, ‘Bozo’ (Bob Fulton) and Fred Jones was one of Ken’s best friends.”

Peter also revealed Irvine’s wife, Val, and children Mark and Michelle live on the Gold Coast.

“And my nephew, Daniel, from my other brother, Brian, came through Parramatta juniors but played for Norths and Souths,” Peter said.

“He ended up being captain of Norths first grade side.”

Ken will always be a hero to Peter.

“I remember when I was aged ten, Ken was on his first Kangaroo tour at 19,” he said. “I spent a lot of my childhood and early manhood following Ken through.”

Originally published as Alex Johnston urged to make his own piece of rugby league history in emotional letter from Ken Irvine’s brother