By TERRY LIBEROPOULOS
THE rugby league world experienced the magnificent scenes at Allianz Stadium when South Sydney winger Alex Johnston became the all-time greatest try-scorer in the elite Australian rugby league competition.
Watching thousands race onto the ground, including South Sydney tragic Anthony Albanese who is better known as the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese. Sure, the game was held up for 15 or so minutes but it was a wonderful spectacle that only happens once in a lifetime.
Johnston recorded try number 213, surpassing the great Ken Irvine who played on the wing for North Sydney and Manly between 1958 and 1973.
Many of the old timers have come out and said that Johnston has played more matches than Irvine as the seasons back in the 1960s weren’t as long. But this is largely untrue as Irvine scored his 212 tries in 238 first grade matches while Johnston achieved the record in 245 games.
Irvine played 16 seasons of top-grade football while Johnston is currently in his 13th season of rugby league, making it more remarkable for the Souths winger.
Harold Horder, the legendary winger for South Sydney and North Sydney from 1912 to 1924, held the original record for most tries in a career with 152. Irvine surpassed that in 1969 when he scored two tries for Norths against St George at the old Sydney Sports Ground. Irvine was in the losing team as the Saints emerged victorious 26-18. Incidentally, Johnston scored two tries for the Rabbitohs in their 26-18 loss to the Roosters, on the land the old Sports Ground once stood upon.
Not taking anything away from Johnston, Irvine was one of the great players to pull on the boots and for his record to remain for 56 years is an incredible achievement. A look at the top 10 try-scorers shows that the oldest record in that list was in 1996 when Terry Lamb retired – two years before the NRL was established.
Billy Slater, who is third on the list with 190 tries, was active between 2003 and 2018 while Sydney Roosters winger Daniel Tupou currently sits with 184 touchdowns and could well become the third player ever to surpass 200 tries in a career.
Age isn’t on Tupou’s side as he turns 35 in June while Johnston is four years his junior and likely to head towards 250 tries by the time his career is over.
Steve Menzies stopped playing in Australia in 2008 when his tally stood at 180. He added another 59 tries while playing in Super League with Bradford and Catalans between 2009 and 2013. That makes his number of tries at 239.
And hree comes another argument, mostly coming from those that reside in the north of England. That Johnston’s record isn’t anywhere near that of Brian Bevan’s 796 tries.
Australian-born Bevan could only manage a handful of first grade matches for Eastern Suburbs between 1942 and 1946. Incredibly, he failed to score a try for the Tricolours and press reports at the time suggested he struggled to keep pace of the game.
Bevan left Easts to serve in the navy during the war and arrived in England aboard HMAS Australia in 1946. Armed with a letter of recommendation from former Easts Test winger Bill Shankland, he sought a trial with Leeds but the club refused to sign the frail-looking winger. Snapped up by Warrington, he scored 44 tries in his first season.
Bevan crossed for no less than 740 tries for the Wire before spending two seasons with Blackpool Borough.
All first-class matches were counted for Bevan, including county games and Challenge Cup appearances, amounting to an average of 40 per season.
Bevan’s best effort was during the 1952-53 campaign, when he amassed 72 tries, still short of the record held by fellow Albert Rosenfeld. The latter had a season with Easts in their inaugural season of 1908 before touring with the Kangaroos later that year.
Whilst on tour Rosenfeld, he signed with English club Huddersfield after falling in love with Ethel (née Barrand), a local mill manager’s daughter whom he later married.
Rosenfeld crossed for 78 tries during the 1911-12 season and improved on that amazing feat by registering 80 tries in 1913-14.
While you can’t take anything away from the likes of Bevan, Rosenfeld and Billy Boston, the record that Johnston has achieved is truly remarkable.
Because it has happened now, many rugby League supporters are quick to point out players from yesteryear because their feats grow bigger every year.
And in 50 or so years from now, there will be people talking about the exploits of one Alex Johnston.