South Sydney winger Alex Johnston closes in on Ken Irvine’s all-time tryscoring record
Only a dramatic U-turn prevented one of South Sydney’s favourite sons from being forced out of the club. Now the chase is on for Alex Johnston to etch his name into rugby league immortality.
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As he hunts down a place in rugby league immortality, Alex Johnston has revealed how he was just 48 hours from being forced out of South Sydney.
The flying winger enters his 11th NRL season with the Rabbitohs, just 26 tries away from breaking what has long been regarded as a seemingly untouchable record.
The legendary Ken Irvine’s 212 career first-grade tries has been the benchmark for more than 50 years.
Now all eyes will be on Johnston on the end of a potent Rabbitohs backline as he chases the all-time record.
But this opportunity almost never happened, at South Sydney anyway, as Johnston reveals just how close he was to signing with the Melbourne Storm in 2020, after being heartbrokenly told he would be moved along by his beloved Rabbitohs.
In a final plea to be retained, Johnston actually penned a handwritten letter to then Souths coach, Wayne Bennett.
Having debuted in 2014, Johnston was ultimately re-signed, putting him on track to eclipse Irvine.
And in a storyline only rugby league could produce, Johnston could achieve the feat against Souths’ fiercest rivals, the Sydney Roosters, in the final game of the regular season at Accor Stadium.
Still just 29 and already with 187 NRL tries, Johnston has two years remaining on his current contract. But could easily play on for another six seasons and set a tryscoring record that may never be broken.
IRVINE MAGIC
Irvine, the Norths and Manly superstar, retired in 1973 with 212 tries – a record without peer over the ensuing five decades. Until now.
“To score 212 tries, you’ve got to be a freak,” Johnston said.
“It’s a big record, so to be closing in is pretty special. Rugby league started in 1908 – I can’t believe it, it’s pretty crazy when you think about it.
“It’s hard not to think about it, especially when everyone else is.
“It hasn’t really hit me just how big this could be. When you first start, you’re blessed to be playing footy and scoring a few tries.
“To now be in the position I am, hopefully I can get there one day, touch wood.”
The NRL’s award for most tries is named the Ken Irvine Medal in honour of the legendary winger.
“It’s pretty surreal. I obviously know of and about Ken Irvine. I haven’t watched many of his tries but I do know he scored 212 of them,” Johnston said.
Johnston knows he has benefited from playing outside the likes of Greg Inglis, Dane Gagai and Dylan Walker during his career.
Over the past four seasons, he has averaged 26 tries over the past four seasons.
This year, playing on the end of a backline that includes Cody Walker, Jack Wighton and Latrell Mitchell will ensure plenty more opportunities.
“I don’t want to mock myself but to be in this position, a lot of things had to go right – staying at Souths and having all the guys inside me that I’ve had over the years,” he said.
“I’m blessed.
“Hopefully I get 26 tries this year. Anything else after that would be a cherry on top.
“There is no final number (by retirement) but if I can keep ticking them over, hopefully I can make it something that will last a while.”
THE MOMENT
The NRL may soon need to start proposing ways to commemorate the incredible milestone.
Some wonder whether Johnston will enjoy the same euphoria Swans champion Buddy Franklin was afforded in 2022, when thousands of fans stormed the SCG after he kicked his 1000th goal.
“If it’s going to be as big as Buddy Franklin, I don’t know if they’ll stop the game,” Johnston said.
“If I break it, what happens if it goes to video ref and it gets called back for a no try? What happens if everyone has already stormed the field?
“I try to stay off social media but I’m told people are already talking about storming the field. It’s a massive opportunity to get behind and celebrate with me also.”
Asked how he felt about possibly breaking the record against the Roosters, Johnston said: “Oh, mate, imagine that?”
UNWANTED WINGER
Johnston’s looming history – and future – at Souths nearly fell over four years ago when told he wasn’t included in the club’s plans.
“It was a time when I realised rugby league was a business. I was going to have to move, Souths didn’t have much cash for me,” he admitted.
“There were a few teams interested. Melbourne was the team I was going to go to. I spoke with all the management there and Craig Bellamy.
“I was about to sign, I was very close. The deadline for Melbourne was the weekend and Wayne pulled me aside on the Thursday and said: ‘Don’t sign yet – something is happening’.
“I was lucky that Ethan Lowe retired hurt so money freed up.
“Wayne told me to hold on, have some faith and they’d have something for me. At the end of the day, I couldn’t sign with Melbourne knowing Souths might have an offer for me.
“There were only two days in it before I had to sign with Melbourne. It was tight. If Wayne didn’t say anything, two days later I was signing with the Storm.
“It’s crazy how it worked and came together, it was absolutely nuts.
“It was weird because there was a time there when I was a bit down because I had played with Souths through my junior career and Souths were the only team I wanted to play for.”
THE LETTER
A shattered Johnston at the time took to writing a letter to Bennett, pleading that the club find some money in the salary cap.
“It was handwritten,” Johnston said.
“I’m a pretty emotional guy so when I speak to people, I break down in tears.
“So I thought it would be better to write something rather than speak it.
“So I wrote a little letter about how much the club meant to me, what I want to achieve and what I would sacrifice to stay.
“I had the time to sit down and think about everything I wanted to say and put pen to paper. I think I got my point across.
“I signed it, (included) my playing number and handed it to Wayne. I’d like to think it struck a chord with him and everyone at Souths as well. It was the best thing I could have done.”
THE PETITION
A then 18-year-old Souths fan, Zac Wheeler, a Coles customer service member, started an online petition, which attracted 2500 signatures, to retain Johnston.
Amid growing fan and media pressure, Souths relented and Johnston stayed.
“The petition started and all the fans signed it and rallied around me. That felt awesome and made me play with more freedom, knowing I had fans out there,” Johnston said.
“Having to leave, I wouldn’t say I was depressed but I was a bit down on myself so I tried to use it as motivation to play some good footy.
“At the end of the day, the fans reaching out and signing the petition made me feel happy with everything and that support put me in a better place.
“It all worked out. I got to stay at Souths and got to keep the momentum going with my form and scoring some tries.
“There is no team I would rather play for and, touch wood, I can finish my career here.”
MARKETABLE WINGER
The impending record will catapult Johnston into becoming one of rugby league’s most marketable players.
NRL grounds will swell in the lead-up to his impending record with fans wanting to watch a piece of rugby league history first-hand.
Johnston’s manager, Steve Gillis, is sourcing sponsorship opportunities and has approached banks, health funds and fast food chains, inviting them to join the anticipated exhilaration.
“We are looking for a major partner whom Alex can share the ride with,” said Gillis.
“It’s going to be a massive moment in sport. He will be etched into the rugby league history books forever. He will be in demand for appearances and endorsements.
“Alex will become a household name and people from all across the country – not just league fans – will get to know of him and learn a little more about who he is and what a great person he is.”
Johnston has already secured a major partner in Papua New Guinea – the Lae Biscuit Company – along with a boot sponsorship with Concave.
CHARITY SHIELD & VEGAS
With Johnston named on the wing, Souths play St George Illawarra in the annual pre-season Charity Shield on Saturday night at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, a fortnight before the Rabbitohs confront Manly in Las Vegas.
“The Charity Shield is always a cracking game against the Dragons. It’s almost like round one,” he said.
“We’re pretty excited to get to Vegas but we’re also a bit nervous because we want to get through the Charity Shield first before we take our seat on the flight.
“We want to hopefully put on a show for all the people in America. It would help getting a few tries in Vegas to kick me off in the right direction.
“The ground is a bit shorter so it might be harder for me to score tries.”
THE FUTURE
Johnston wants to play until he’s 36.
If he remains injury free, he could post another 100 tries.
“I’ve got this contract, which ends after next season when I’m 30, so another contract after that and then see how I go,” he said.
“It would be special to stay with one club. Not many people get to do it. I love this club and I’d like to think the club loves me.”
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