'May never be broken': Prime Minister leads tributes to AJ
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led tributes to Alex Johnston after the South Sydney star and Papua New Guinea international became the greatest try scorer in premiership history
Johnston broke Ken Irvine's 53-year record of 212 tries when he raced 40 metres to score in the first set of tackles after halftime against Sydney Roosters before a sold-out Allianz Stadium crowd, which included the Prime Minister.
The 31-year-old winger had earlier drawn level with Irvine when he crossed in the first half and then got his record breaking 213th after a backing up a break by Latrell Mitchell and outpacing Mark Nawaqanitawase to score.
Albanese, who is a life-long Souths fan and previously served as a Rabbitohs director, was among the first to congratulate Johnston for his history making feat, which sparked a stoppage in the game as fans ran onto the field to celebrate.
"I congratulate Alex Johnston on breaking the all-time try-scoring record, an achievement that has stood for more than half a century," the Prime Minister said.
AJ has become an all-time legend. With years left in his playing career, his record may never be broken.
"AJ has become an all-time legend. With years left in his playing career, his record may never be broken.
"As a Souths tragic, I’m so happy he wears the cardinal and myrtle. But the entire rugby league community can be proud of his contribution to the game. He is also an absolute gentleman off the field who cares about his community.”
Johnston, who returned to the field after the stoppage wearing a new jersey with a gold No.2 on his back, has played 245 NRL matches since debuting for Souths in 2014.
A descendant of Saibai Island in the Torres Strait, Johnston proudly represents his Indigenous and Papua New Guinean heritage and has made it known he would like to be player No.1 for the new PNG team entering the NRL in 2028.
Kumuls great Justin Olam, who played alongside Johnston at the World Cup in 2022, said the try scoring record would be an inspiration to Papua New Guineans.
"I am very proud of him and for the effort he has put in to play this long and maintain his form to score so many tries, and he is still going at the top level," Olam said.
"There have been some great tryscorers in the last 52 years so for him to break the record is a testament to his legacy and it is something every Papua New Guinean can be proud of.
To see a fellow Kumul setting the record as the highest tryscorer in the sport is a big inspiration for young Papua New Guineans and kids back at home who look up to Alex Johnston will be driven to be like him.
"He goes back and does some work in PNG to inspire young kids so that is going to be massive, and it will definitely be good for the development of the game."
Marcus Bai, who is widely considered PNG's greatest player, also told NRL.com that having a Kumul as the greatest tryscorer in premiership history would inspire Papua New Guineans for decades
“He is our blood, and we are proud that he has chosen to come to play for PNG,” sad Bai, who a member of the PNG Chiefs' board.
“The big thing with our boys is that they see him, and they think, ‘what he can do, I can do’, so he motivates them and that becomes the conversation in the village.
“Even though he didn’t play his juniors here, we claim him. He has made us proud, and we will all celebrate with him because the all-time record is not far away.”
Fellow internationals Brian To'o and Jacob Kiraz also paid tribute to Johnston for his achievement.
"I've watched him ever since he started playing for the Bunnies and he's always been one of my favorite wingers to watch," Penrith and Samoa's To'o said.
He's obviously been killing it for Souths for a long time and for him to be the top try scorer, I reckon he definitely deserves that and the praise that he is due.
"I'm really happy for him for how far he's come throughout his career and to beat that record shows he is definitely up there as one of the best."
Canterbury winger Kiraz, who will be one of the big names in Lebanon side at RLWC2026, also said Johnston was a player he looked up to.
"It must be nice to score that many tries but honestly, it is massive," Kiraz told NRL.com.
"Every time I go up against him, I speak to my brother and say I'm not going to let him score and then every game he's played against me, I think he's scored.
"He has just always shown his try scoring ability and even though people say he only has to catch the ball, you just can't give him any space because he's so rapid and quick.
"He's a great human too, so I have full respect to him. He deserves that record."
