Going the extra milestone: Records beckon in 2024
- Author
- Timestamp
As understated and modest as they come, Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston will have to get used to life in the spotlight as he closes in on one of rugby league's longest standing and most revered records.
With his career try tally standing at 187 after he crossed 21 times in 2023, Johnston needs 25 four-pointers to draw level with the greatest of all try-scorers, Ken Irvine.
Across a glittering 16-year career with North Sydney and Manly, Irvine bagged 212 tries in 238 games, setting a premiership record that has stood the test of time despite the best efforts of prolific finishers Billy Slater (190), Steve Menzies (180), Brett Morris (176) and Andrew Ettingshausen (166).
Irvine's magical mark has stood since Round 22 of the 1973 season, when he scored one of Manly's 10 tries in a 42-3 victory over Balmain at Brookvale Oval.
He then failed to score in the major semi-final or grand final, finishing his career with 212 tries in first grade to go with 40 Test tries and 36 four-pointers in interstate footy for NSW.
Having scored 104 tries in 92 games across the past four seasons, Johnston has steadily made up ground on Irvine and given himself a realistic shot at breaking the record in 2024.
61. Ken Irvine - Hall of Fame
About to turn 29 and with two years remaining on his contract at Redfern, the 2022 Dally M Winger of the Year has the record at his mercy given the potency of the Rabbitohs' left edge and his supreme finishing ability.
Johnston will have 24 regular season games to try and rack up the 26 tries he needs, and the quest begins in Las Vegas on March 3 against one of Irvine's former clubs in Manly.
The Rabbitohs then face the Broncos, Roosters and Bulldogs, with Johnston looking to kick start his 11th season in the top grade by going past Slater into second place on the list before setting sail for 200 career tries and then the magical mark of 212.
Another man closing in on a significant try-scoring mark is Roosters veteran Daniel Tupou, who needs just seven more tries to bring up 150 for his career after passing Anthony Minichiello in July to become the club's all-time leading try-scorer.
Also poised to celebrate a special moment early in the 2024 season is Tupou's teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who will become the 50th player to appear in 300 NRL games when the Roosters tackle his old club Manly in Round 2 at Brookvale.
After debuting with the Sea Eagles back in 2009, JWH headed to Bondi the following season and was playing in a grand final in just his 25th career game.
Match Highlights: Roosters v Storm
That 2010 decider ended in disappointment with a 32-8 loss to the Dragons but come 2013 and the combative Kiwi had a premiership ring when the Roosters downed the Sea Eagles in the big one.
He collected two more titles in 2018-19 as the Roosters went back-to-back and has gone on to rack up 292 games in red, white and blue, fourth behind Mitch Aubusson, Minichiello and Luke Ricketson on the club's games tally.
The 34-year-old needs to play 15 games to break the Roosters’ all-time appearance record held by Aubusson (306).
Across town on Sydney's northern beaches, another of the NRL's most durable superstars, Daly Cherry-Evans, is on track to break his club's games record early in the season.
One of only two Sea Eagles to have racked up 300 games, Cherry-Evans is just four behind the great Cliff Lyons' mark of 309 matches.
Mackay to Manly: DCE to hit 300
Should DCE come through the first four rounds intact he will claim the record in front of an adoring home crowd in Round 5 when Nathan Cleary and the Panthers come calling to Brookvale.
The Penrith supremo enters 2024 needing 152 points to go past Ryan Girdler's club record of 1572 points. Cleary has 1421 points comprised of 57 tries, 588 goals and 15 field goals.
Other milestones on the horizon
Josh Papalii is 18 games away from becoming only the third Raiders player to appear in 300 games for the club, following Jason Croker (318) and Jarrod Croker (307).
Titans playmaker Kieran Foran needs 18 games to join the 300 Club. He has played 196 games for the Sea Eagles, 40 for the Bulldogs, 20 for the Titans, 17 for Warriors and 9 for the Eels.
Canberra’s Ricky Stuart is on track to become only the fifth coach to reach the milestone of 500 games as first-grade coach when the Raiders meet the Sharks at GIO Stadium in Round 8.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson will coach his 300th NRL game when the Roosters clash with Wests Tigers at Allianz Stadium in Round 1.
Titans forward Isaac Liu (249), Sharks captain Dale Finucane (248), Broncos prop Martin Taupau (242), Cowboys playmaker Chad Townsend (242), Rabbitohs centre Jack Wighton (242), Roosters winger Daniel Tupou (241), Knights forward Tyson Frizell (239) and Dolphins veteran Kenny Bromwich (238) are all closing in on 250 career games.
