RECORD-BREAKING South Sydney winger Alex Johnston has revealed he was concerned one of the fans who invaded the pitch after he became the Premiership’s top tryscorer would steal the ball with which he set the new mark.
Speaking on Fox Sports, Johnston also spoke the letter he wrote to Wayne Bennett when he was about to be axed by South Sydney in 2020.
The 31-year-old Papua New Guinea international scored his 212th and 213th tries at Allianz Stadium on Friday night in a loss to Sydney Roosters, prompting an pitch invasion by thousands of well-wishers.
“As soon as I saw one person run on, I knew it was about to kick off and I just held the ball tight,” said Johnston, who beat a record that has stood since 1969.
“I didn’t want to give it up.
“At some point I thought I was going to hit the deck and just get trampled on and then I got lifted up. I was just soaking it up. It was an amazing feeling.
“After about a minute, it was chaos and I was ‘get me out of here’ and I came in the sheds.”
On his near departure, Johnston said: “I was out the door one of those years.
“Pretty lucky that letter. Wayne came down and said that letter saved me. It was actually my missus’ idea as well, to write a letter so I give her credit.
“It’s so good in these colours – I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Asked what he thought at halftime when he had equalled the record, Johnston replied: “I’m thinking I score the game winner.
“I score the game winner and everyone sails off into the sunset. That’s what I’m thinking.”
As for the jersey with the gold number that he put on during the pitch invasion-enforced stoppage, he recalled “they brought it out and Wayne for a second was like ‘what are you doing, we’ve got to focus … OK, put it on, put it on’.
“It’s a pretty cool keepsake or I might sell it if I need some money.”
And while coach Bennett cut a stoic visage at the post-match media conference, according to Johnston he told the team: “We’ll treat it as a win even though it was a loss (as) it’s a pretty special moment for everyone to be involved (in).
“It’s been an absolute honour to hear that from the master coach.”