‘Bad place’: Record breaker Johnston feared it would never come

By JASPER BRUCE

Record breaker Alex Johnston feared his career was over and the NRL’s try-scoring landmark would remain forever out of reach during the dark days of his Achilles tendon injury.

But words of wisdom from South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett helped get the Indigenous winger back on his feet and on track to reach rarefied air with his 213th NRL try.

Thousands of fans rushed onto the field at Allianz Stadium when Johnston crossed in the set after halftime of Friday night’s clash with the Sydney Roosters.

Alex Johnston is mobbed by fans after his record-breaking 213th NRL try. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

His second try for the night was the culmination of a beautiful break down Souths’ left edge, and drew the Rabbitohs level at 12-12 before their eventual 26-18 defeat.

“If it was going to happen, either it should’ve been me getting the game-winning try, or just after halftime like that,” Johnston said after the round-two clash.

The try was also the culmination of years of speculation that prolific Johnston would be the man to one day break the try-scoring record of 212 four-pointers set by Ken Irvine in 1973.

The man himself wasn’t always so sure, though.

Alex Johnston suffered an injury in 2024 which made him fear he was “done”. (AAP PHOTOS)

After a mostly fortunate run of fitness since his NRL debut in 2014, Johnston ruptured his Achilles tendon in July 2024 and required season-ending surgery.

Achilles injuries are notorious for curtailing the injured player’s speed, and off-contract Johnston was turning 30 in a matter of months.

“I thought I was done, to be honest,” Johnston said.

“I was in a bad place.”

Coach Wayne Bennett persuaded tje club to re-sign the winger in 2020. (AAP)

Bennett had helped convince Souths to re-sign Johnston in the 2020 season when the winger looked set for the exit door.

The coach was there to pick Johnston up again as his Souths future again came into doubt amid the hardest of injury blows.

“I messaged Wayne and I told him I was in a bad place and he looked after me with some kind words,” Johnston said.

“It sort of got me back on track there.

Johnston celebrates with his family after his record breaking feat. (AAP)

“To get past that and to be here tonight, it feels a little better just knowing that I had a bit of adversity to overcome as well.”

Since signing a new contract and recovering, Johnston had been nervy about discussing the prospect of breaking the record in the media.

“This is a massive monkey off my back,” Johnston said on Friday.

Fans ignored warnin gs not to enter the field after Johnston broke the all-time record. (AAP)

Johnston has scored an average of 17.6 tries per season prior to this year, so could conceivably pass 240 by the time his Rabbitohs deal expires at the end of 2027.

Johnston has been heavily linked with the NRL’s forthcoming Port Moresby-based franchise beyond that.

But Bennett said there would always be a home for Johnston at Heffron Park if he wanted one.

“If he wants to do something else and come back to Souths, that’s never going to be a problem. The game is blessed to have a player like him,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presented Johnston with a commemorative game ball after full-time as the NRL paid tribute to the 31-year-old.

“It’s something I probably won’t get over ever in my life. It’s something I’ll always remember,” Johnston said.

Thousands of fans stormed onto the field at Allianz Stadium to celebrate Johnston breaking the NRL’s try-scoring record.

Fans were undeterred by the prospect of $5,500 fines, having booed earlier in the game when the big screen displayed warnings against entering the field.

Alex Johnston scores a try during the Round 2 match between the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. (AAP)

“I enjoyed it for about a minute and then I was like, ‘Get me out of here!’,” Johnston said.

“It was pretty crazy. It was full on, I honestly was struggling to breathe. It was so hot in there.”

The majority took around five minutes to return to the stands as the ground announcer reminded the crowd that “we’ve got a game of rugby league to play”.