Alex Johnston’s Tears and Tries Light Up the NRL as History Inches Closer

In a stirring display of resilience and brilliance, Alex Johnston, the South Sydney Rabbitohs winger, etched his name into rugby league folklore on Sunday, becoming the first player in the NRL era to reach 200 career tries. With emotions pouring as freely as the points, the 30-year-old couldn’t hold back the tears after notching a hat-trick in a nail-biting 36-30 clash against the Warriors.

Johnston’s milestone is more than just numbers on a scoreboard. It’s a story of persistence, pain, and passion. Injuries have haunted his 2025 season, but the electric winger returned with a vengeance, scoring five tries in just four games, and now stands only 13 tries away from equaling Ken Irvine’s legendary record of 212—a mark that has stood untouched for over five decades.

“The crowd started going crazy and I was almost crying,” Johnston confessed post-match. “There were some dark times in the past 10 months… but to come back and contribute like this means everything. I love this club and hopefully, I keep scoring.”

The feat hasn’t gone unnoticed by the game’s elite. Coach Wayne Bennett hailed Johnston as “a special player”, both athletically and mentally. And perhaps most notably, Hollywood star and Souths co-owner Russell Crowe has reportedly expressed his wish for Johnston to retire at the club where it all began, cementing his legacy in red and green.

“He’s so smart in how he positions himself and reads the game. It’s instinct—and it’s rare,” Bennett said. “He’s not just chasing records, he’s carrying a legacy forward.”

But as Johnston climbs towards immortality, the NRL stage continues to evolve. Injuries and late reshuffles are forcing clubs to rethink strategies, as seen with the Raiders and Roosters’ dramatic lineup changes ahead of their Allianz Stadium clash. The Raiders’ rising star Ethan Sanders, replacing Jamal Fogarty due to injury, is now in the spotlight.

Cooper Cronk, speaking about the sudden swap, emphasized the future-facing mindset: “This kid’s been earmarked. He’s got game management and flair, which is a rare combo. It’ll be interesting to see how he gels with Ethan Strange moving forward.”

Meanwhile, Souths teammate Jai Arrow put Johnston’s feat into perspective: “It’s hard scoring one try in this game, let alone 200. It’s unbelievable. He should be massively proud.”

Johnston’s race to history is no longer a silent pursuit. Every tackle, every run, every leap to the try line carries the weight of history and the hopes of fans. Whether or not he surpasses Irvine’s record this season remains uncertain—but for now, his journey is the heartbeat of the NRL.