Alex Johnston

[mikail-eagle]

Scored his 200th try yesterday and became only the 2nd player to reach a double century along side the great Ken Irvine.
Barring something very disastrous, he should also score the 13 needed tries either this year or early next season to take top spot.

I know Rabbitohs fans love and hold him in high regard but what do fans of other clubs think of him ?
How will his achievement be remembered after he has retired ?
He has hardly ever been looked at for rep games even when he was at his peak so just wanted know what everyone else thinks of him.

 

[speedster]

Well, I'm a Rabbitohs fan so not who the question is targeting but, I love him, I love him, I love him. Want to have his baby except I'm a he/him/it.

He's a classical winger in the sense that he is a finisher first and foremost. As a finisher, you wouldn't want anyone else on the end of those long balls speared at him from the likes of Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell over the years. He is so in synch with those guys that he has the laser like instinct to be on the fly in the exact right position to turn those passes into gems. He has great hands and the ability to keep moving even when he has to contort his body to reach round and collect those difficult passes. He's a beauty.

He had one game for Australia and a bunch for PNG being half Koori and half Papuan but hasn't had a look in for Origin because they look for guys who are great in yardage as well as able to finish and his yardage work is okay but not as good as bigger, bulkier wingers. He's decent under the high ball but he's no Zac Lomax when it comes to taking high kicks.

But Alex Johnston is now a bonafide legend of our game and I couldn't be more chuffed. When he retires after surely breaking the record, will they rename the try scorer's medal the Irvine-Johnston medal? If he plays a few more years, he could get to 250!

Anyhow, I would never want to see him in any other club colours than ours.

 

[Munky]

Excellent try scoring winger who knows how to position himself.

Doesn't offer much else other than being 'safe'.

If he had played in an era before the rise of yardage wingers he'd be regarded as a legend.

 

[Billythekid]

His record speaks for itself. One of the great finishers and an all around safe player.

IMO good wingers are generally underrated, they actually have a huge impact on the game.

 

[Trifili13]

Don't like renaming awards just because someone broke the record. Maybe after he retires they can have something like the winner of the winger of the year at the Dally M's is the 'Alex Johnston Winger of the Year' or best younger winger say U21. If the highest try scorer of the year after the home and away rounds isn't named after anyone, may name it after him.

 

[Perth Red]

Like Munky said he's a classic 90's winger. Shame he wasnt playing in that era or he'd have racked up test match caps by now. It is a bit bizarre that the second leading try scoring winger of all time has played so little rep RL.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Like Munky said he's a classic 90's winger. Shame he wasnt playing in that era or he'd have racked up test match caps by now. It is a bit bizarre that the second leading try scoring winger of all time has played so little rep RL.

Might be one for the Bears to go after …will still just be turned 32 come Round 1 2027

 

[Bobby DIGital]

He's a good player but he's no Martin Offiah.

 

[yobbo84]

This is the 118th season of first grade Rugby League.

Alex Johnston is:

- The second player ever to score 200 tries
- The first player ever to score 200 tries for one club
- Has scored more tries at one venue than anyone else (90 tries at Accor Stadium)
- Has scored 177 tries in 170 games when playing on the wing - I repeat - more than one try every match over 170 games!

Regardless of what anyone thinks of him, he is going to retire with a record that will stand the test of time.

 

[mikail-eagle]

Alex Johnston is

- The second player ever to score 200 tries
- The first player ever to score 200 tries for one club
- Has scored more tries at one venue than anyone else (90 tries at Accor Stadium)
- Has scored 177 tries in 170 games when playing on the wing - I repeat - more than one try every match over 170 games!

Regardless of what anyone thinks of him, he is going to retire with a record that will stand the test of time.

Thanks for bringing out those other stats. Does make his records more impressive now.

 

[Det.Wojciehowicz]

The numbers don't lie. He knows how to get over the line. A genuinely good bloke as well.

 

[Chins]

A luckier Dave Simmons. Seems like a lovely bloke but it will be weird to have such a vanilla meh winger as the all time try scorer

 

[Someone2]

A plodder player that dosn’t deserve the record

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Would’ve done it 2-3 years ago if he hadn’t had such lean seasons in 2018 & 2019 when he was primarily FB. 12 tries in 39 games.

Still, if it was easy, someone else would’ve done it by now. Slater was the big hope but he fell away.

 

[Det.Wojciehowicz]

A plodder player that dosn’t deserve the record

Not only is going to own the record but he's also got a Premiership ring. How many living Crapamatta players can say they have one too?

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Good finisher and obviously works hard on his game, safe enough in defence, good bloke for a Souths career player, brown vanilla, not very good at anything else but has done well with the little natural ability he’s been given.

Congrats.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Not only is going to own the record but he's also got a Premiership ring. How many living Crapamatta players can say they have one too?

Bro Josh Bro Addo-Carr bro. Bro.

 

[Det.Wojciehowicz]

Bro Josh Bro Addo-Carr bro. Bro.

True, but he didn't get it at Crapamatta.

 

[Fangs]

Even though the game has changed he has remained. Most wingers of his type have been replaced by metre eaters.

I generally forget about him and think of great finishers with a bigger frame like Brett Morris. But that try scoring record held by Johnston is pretty crazy. Deserves to get the number one spot.

 

[Chimp]

Whatever way anyone wants to look at it, it’s a fantastic achievement.
Whilst not the biggest, strongest, or even fastest (though I don’t remember him ever been caught when he has had space ahead of him), he’s been ultra durable, ultra reliable, and ultra consistent. I don’t remember him bombing any sitters, if he’s given the ball with a chance of scoring, he generally obliges.

I’ll be pleased for the fella if he gets the record - there’s never been any scandal about him, he’s got no ego, he just seems like a really nice kid who’s made the absolute most of his ability.