Calls for new Johnston honour as record-breaker prepares for PNG return

Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly will lead a push to rename the Ken Irvine Medal to celebrate Alex Johnston as the NRL's new all-time leading try-scorer prepares for a hero's welcome in his looming return to Papua New Guinea. 

The winger surpassed Irvine when he scored his 213th try in the 41st minute of Friday's clash with the Roosters at a sold-out Allianz Stadium. 

The Rabbitohs honoured the occasion by unveiling a statue of Johnston at their Heffron headquarters on Monday morning and the focus quickly turned to how to ensure the Kumuls star is remembered long after his career comes to an end. 

The Irvine Medal is currently presented to the NRL's top try scorer for each season and Solly said renaming it the Irvine-Johnston Medal would be a fitting way to honour both men.

"The medal is named after Ken because of a) he had the record and b) his contribution to the game," Solly said. "Now AJ's got the record it's absolutely right that AJ's there but we should never forget all of the great things Ken did for our game. It's fitting that it would be named the Johnston-Irvine Medal. 

"One of the great things about this is the support AJ's had from the Irvine family all the way through and the respect AJ has for Ken and everything he achieved in the game. 

"It isn't like you're trying to put two players who didn't have great respect for each other, this is a perfect fit."

Johnston will return to the field on Saturday night when South Sydney take on the Wests Tigers in a Multicultural Round clash at Polytec Stadium in Gosford. 

It's a fitting week to celebrate the occasion, given the veteran's Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Papua New Guinean heritage. 

PNG Prime Minister James Marape has joined Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in celebrating the achievement and plans to honour Johnston when he returns to the nation later this year.

There were jubilant scenes throughout PNG over the weekend as the country's rugby league mad residents celebrated a moment that will be remembered forever.

Johnston has already expressed his desire to play for the PNG Chiefs during their inaugural season in the NRL in 2028 and said players can expect a similar response on a weekly basis when they enter the competition. 

"It's crazy the Prime Minister has written a letter congratulating me and seeing some of the footage of everyone going mad on the streets," Johnston said. "I can't wait to go home. 

"They love rugby league so much over there and the Chiefs will get massive support every week. It's something I want to be a part of. I'd love to stay at Souths but the footy over there, everyone needs to experience it. 

"I fall in love with the game of footy going over there. Every time I'm over there it's one of the best experiences so it's unreal to feel that."

The Rabbitohs have long been aware of Johnson's interest in joining the Chiefs and have given him permission to converse with the expansion club despite being under contract until the end of 2027.

While contract discussions happen in the background, South Sydney's short-term focus is to continue a week of festivities honouring the 31-year-old. 

The statue unveiled on Monday had been years in the making and was the brainchild of dedicated Rabbitohs fan Danny Taibel. 

Solly was proud to support Taibel's vision and said the statue is another example of rugby league's power to unify diverse cultures. 

"It's wonderful being in Multicultural Round and there's something to take away from that," Solly said. "You've got an Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander man who has a deep connection with Papua New Guinea being celebrated with a sculpture that was the product of a donation from a member of the Jewish community in Sydney. 

"That's rugby league and it's particularly the Rabbitohs that no matter what faith, what demographic you come from, we've got a club here that wants to include you and you can belong."