Latest news with #KenIrvine
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
NRL fans are warned not to celebrate star's history-making achievement - and the reason why is proof the nanny state has gone MAD
Alex Johnston needs only three tries to equal Ken Irvine's long-standing record, having scored the most tries of any player in Australian rugby league's top flight. Irvine, who played a combined 236 games for North Sydney and Manly, sits top of the all-time leading scorers list, having amassed a whopping 212 tries during his glittering career. And now, Johnston stands poised to tie level with the record, if he can find a trio of tries in the South Sydney Rabbitohs' final three games of the season. The Bunnies come up against the Eels on Saturday afternoon at the Allianz Stadium, and there is hope that he could even match or overtake Irvine's record, with a hat-trick or quartet of tries. And it's not a totally inconceivable feat. Johnston has bagged 16 hat-tricks during his career, and if he manages to match Irvine's record on Saturday, there will no doubt be plenty of celebrations among Souths fans at Moore Park. Should he achieve the feat, some fans could even invade the pitch, just as Sydney Swans supporters did when AFL immortal Buddy Franklin booted his 1000th goal for the Red V, back in 2022. In anticipation of the landmark event, the Souths are urging fans not to enter the field of play at the Allianz arena. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that their main concern is due to the pitch. New South Wales has experienced a deluge of rain over the past month and concerns have continued to mount over the Allianz Stadium's playing surface. It comes as the NRL is set to host three games in three days, as part of the NRL's Gadhu Gathering round. Grounds staff at the Allianz Stadium have deployed a range of LED lights this week, in a bid to dry out the playing surface so that it is ready for action come Friday night. The Souths have expressed worries about health and safety among spectators for the match against the Eels , who also risk being slapped with a $5,500 fine and a two-year ban from the venue, under the Sydney Cricket and Sportsground Act 1978, should they choose to enter the pitch. The club are understood to be more comfortable if fans stormed the pitch after full-time of their game against St George on Thursday, if Johnston topples Irvine's record during Round 25 at the Accor Stadium. 'Everyone is getting increasingly excited as 'AJ' gets closer to the record, but it's also hard to predict when it will happen,' Bunnies CEO Blake Solly said. But Souths bosses are keen for fans not to storm the pitch amid fears that they could injure themselves and place divots in the turf of the brand now stadium 'When he does break the record, we're asking fans to not immediately storm the field of play. 'Our members and fans can be assured they will get a chance to celebrate with Alex post-match, but to wait until the final whistle before the celebrations really start.' Despite that, Johnston's team-mate, Tallis Duncan, hopes fans storm the pitch to celebrate their flying winger's achievement. 'He's amazing, he's the best at what he does, and what he does is score tries,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald. 'He makes it look easier than what it is. A lot of the time 'Trell' [Latrell Mitchell] and Cody [Walker] don't even have to look, they just pass to the right place and AJ is there every single time.' He even revealed that some among the Souths' playing cohort are even talking about who will set him up for the try. 'Everyone is really excited for him. We've got boys talking about, 'who wants to be the one to throw the [final] pass,' Duncan added. 'I don't know if I'll get into trouble with the NRL for saying this, but it would be mad to see [fans storm the pitch]. 'I know they did it for Buddy Franklin in the AFL, and it was cool to watch. I hope it's celebrated by the NRL, rather than people getting in trouble.' It comes after multiple players have lashed out at the $828million stadium's playing surface. Huge puddles, divots and muddy conditions have become a common feature of NRL games at the stadium over the past two years. Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson claimed the field was 'one of the worst he had played on' last year as rain fell before a match between the Eels and the Roosters last August. But it appears drainage issues are continuing to impact the state-of-the-art footy stadium, which was opened in 2022. Lindsay Collins even told The Sydney Morning Herald: 'There's something wrong with this field. It's not crash hot. You have to deal with it. 'We were saying they should have put a roof on. I think the original plan was to put a roof on. The money they'll invest to rip it all up, maybe they should have put a roof on.' Roosters captain James Tedesco called on Venues New South Wales to 'sort out' the stadium's playing surface. 'For a first-class, elite stadium like this that hosts a lot of top-line clubs in Australia, and around the world, the surface needs to be top class, as the stadium is,' Tedesco said. 'They need to sort that out.
News.com.au
22-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
New two-year deal for South Sydney try-scoring machine Alex Johnston
South Sydney try machine Alex Johnston could set an NRL record no one will ever be able to chase down after earning an extra two years at the club. Johnston, 30, needs just six tries to break Ken Irvine's longstanding record of 212 and, with the rest of 2025, plus now 2026 and 2027, could set an unreachable mark courtesy of his new deal. Already South Sydney's greatest try scorer with 207 from his 237 NRL games, Johnston could pass Irvine and then put a gap on the rest of the chasers. 'I couldn't be happier to be staying at the club for another two years,' Johnston said. 'Despite the recent results, I know we have a strong club here with quality players, coaches and staff, and I want to be part of returning us to the top of the ladder. 'I've enjoyed premiership success here before and I'm really focused on doing that again here for South Sydney. 'I also want to break the try-scoring record at the Rabbitohs and achievements like that come from the efforts and performances of my teammates as much as me. We're all in this together. 'I also would like to thank the members for their support. There are no more loyal supporters in the game and I love representing them each week as well. I thank them for sticking by us and encouraging us throughout some difficult times on field. 'I'm looking forward to working hard to turn around the back end of our season this year and then having a crack at premierships over the next two years as well.' Veteran Sydney Roosters winger Daniel Tupou is the closest active player to Johnston with 175 career tries. MOST NRL TRIES 1 Ken Irvine 212 2 Alex Johnston* 207 3 Billy Slater 190 4 Steve Menzies 180 5 Brett Morris 176
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Veteran Rabbitoh re-signs with NRL record in sight
Alex Johnston looks guaranteed to break the NRL's tryscoring record in South Sydney colours after signing a new contract extension. The veteran winger, six tries from an unmatched 213 career four-pointers, had been in talks with the Rabbitohs in recent weeks before the club confirmed a new two-year deal on Tuesday. An injury to Latrell Mitchell cast doubt over Johnston's ability to break the record this season, given he must now shift to fullback out of the left wing spot where he has been so prolific. But the new deal means Johnston will at least have the chance to surpass Ken Irvine's mark of 212 next season, when Souths will look to rebound from a horror campaign of injuries. It's official 😍✍️ — South Sydney Rabbitohs 🐰 (@SSFCRABBITOHS) July 22, 2025 "I couldn't be happier to be staying at the club for another two years," Johnston said. "Despite the recent results, I know we have a strong club here with quality players, coaches and staff, and I want to be part of returning us to the top of the ladder. "I also want to break the tryscoring record at the Rabbitohs and achievements like that come from the efforts and performances of my teammates as much as me. We're all in this together." The new deal keeps Johnston a one-club player, with the 30-year-old local product making his debut in the 2014 season. He went on to feature in that year's drought-breaking grand final win and has made 237 appearances for the club in total.
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Thousands of NRL fans beg police not to arrest them for storming the field in Souths star Alex Johnston's milestone match
South Sydney Rabbitohs fans have launched a passionate online campaign pleading with authorities to let them storm the field in celebration if club legend Alex Johnston breaks the NRL 's all-time try-scoring record. The viral petition on is calling for 'safe and respectful' fan access to the pitch, echoing scenes from Lance 'Buddy' Franklin's famous 1000th AFL goal moment in 2022. Johnston moved within touching distance of the historic milestone on Saturday night, scoring four tries in a 25-24 golden-point loss to Melbourne. Three of those came via sharp assists from Latrell Mitchell, while the fourth was a brilliant intercept effort. The 29-year-old winger now has 206 tries in 234 career matches. The record he is chasing belongs to Ken Irvine, the legendary winger for North Sydney and Manly, who crossed 212 times before retiring in 1973. That mark has stood unchallenged for more than 50 years. Johnston is now just six tries away from matching Irvine and seven from surpassing him. The online petition is gaining momentum as supporters push for a historic moment in rugby league celebration as Johnston closes in on Ken Irvine's (pictured) long-standing record 'AJ holds a special place in the heart of thousands of South Sydney Rabbitohs fans,' the fan petition states. 'A Rabbitohs junior, a 2014 premiership winner, a three-time Ken Irvine Medallist, and a Dally M Winger of the Year – but most of all, an incredible bloke.' Johnston, who almost left the club in 2020 after being told he was no longer required, has become one of the sport's most humble and consistent stars. That same year, fans rallied to keep him at the club with an online petition that drew significant support. Supporters now hope lightning will strike twice, this time calling for coordination between the NRL, club officials and police to allow fans to safely enter the field in the event Johnston breaks the record. The proposal points to the Buddy Franklin moment at the SCG as proof such celebrations can be handled in an organised way. Former premiership-winning NRL halfback Chad Townsend publicly backed the campaign on his podcast. 'Souths fans, when your guy Alex Johnston breaks the record, I'm giving you permission to run on the field,' he joked. 'Get him up on your shoulders and celebrate this. I don't know if we'll ever see it broken in our lifetime again.' Johnston himself has admitted the milestone now feels within reach. 'If you told me a few weeks ago, I would have told you I was still a fair bit away,' he said. 'But I've scored a few tries in the past few games and I'm getting close now. I'll try my best to get it this year.' He also acknowledged the tough times he's faced and credited his family for helping him through. 'I was probably not in the best place for a good while there,' he said. 'But I've got a pretty good rock at home, my family are always there for me.' Entering the field during an NRL match currently carries steep penalties in New South Wales, including a $5500 fine and a 12-month venue ban. Repeat offenders risk lifetime bans, and more serious offences can attract jail time. Despite this, fans remain hopeful a special exemption can be made for a one-off moment of history. 'Let's make this moment something rugby league never forgets,' the petition continues. 'We believe an organised field surge can be achieved with the right planning and guidelines in place.' Johnston, who is off-contract at season's end, said breaking the record and securing a new deal would be a fitting way to continue his career. 'Once I finish this season ... signing a new contract will be nice, getting that record will be nice, and then I don't know,' he said. 'Another four more years would be nice.'
News.com.au
22-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘It will be very special': Try-scoring record starting to feel real for Alex Johnston after grabbing four more against the Storm
Alex Johnston has never liked talking about the try-scoring record in case he jinxed it, but the reality of breaking Ken Irvine's long-standing mark is starting to hit home for the Souths legend who narrowed the gap on Saturday with four tries against the Storm. The South Sydney winger is now up to 206 tries and is just six behind Irvine's record which many people thought would never be broken. But Johnston, 30, looks set to do it after grabbing a second-half hat-trick in the golden point loss to Melbourne, taking his tally to nine tries in his past four matches against teams that are all in the top four. He's already scored 11 tries in just seven matches this season and could very well break the record as early as next month. 4 TRIES FOR JOHNSTON! He may break the all-time try scoring record tonight! ðŸ'° Watch #NRLSouthsStorm on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: âœ�ï¸� BLOG ðŸ'¢ MATCH CENTRE — Fox League (@FOXNRL) June 21, 2025 'If you told me a few weeks ago, I would have told you I was still a fair bit away,' he replied when asked about possibly becoming the greatest try-scorer in history. 'But I've scored a few tries in the past few games and I'm getting close now. I'll try my best to get it this year. 'It will be very special. 'Hopefully it's a payday, and a third party comes my way and wants to be a part of it.' Johnston was on the receiving end of three glorious assists from Latrell Mitchell, with the winger paying tribute to Cody Walker and Greg Inglis for setting him up for the bulk of his tries. 'Trell was pretty much feeding me those tries, so it was pretty good,' he said. 'They are two special fullbacks that I've played with. Then you've got guys like Cody who probably has even more try assists to me. 'The centres I've had over the years as well, I've been lucky to be on the end of a pretty special backline. 'I'm getting closer to that record, but it's bittersweet losing the way we did. We should have won the game.' The only question now is what the game will do to celebrate Johnston's impending achievement, with fans likely to storm the field as we see in other sports like AFL when someone reaches the 1000-goal mark. Johnston said he didn't have the flair to do anything too crazy, with the winger just content to be back on the field after a serious Achilles injury last year had people wondering if his career – and the record chase – were over. 'I don't want to harp on it too much, but I said when I scored 200 tries a few weeks ago how I wasn't in the best place for a good while [last year], and it was special to go out there and get a standing ovation when I scored 200 tries,' he said. 'It's now 206. I'll keep ticking them over. Things are looking up. 'I was lucky because I've got a pretty good rock at home, and my family are always there for me. 'I'm still probably getting there to be honest. Once I finish this season, without getting injured, touch wood, signing a new contract will be nice, getting that record will be nice, and then I don't know. Another four more years would be nice.' The 2014 premiership winner is off contract at the end of the season but is hopeful that a deal will be struck soon. 'We're still chatting,' he said. 'I don't know if it's locked in yet. I know my manager and Souths were in talks this week. We'll see what happens. I think it's very close.'
