{"id":537740,"date":"2026-03-13T12:23:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T12:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/537740\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T12:23:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T12:23:10","slug":"roosters-defeat-rabbitohs-alex-johnston-breaks-try-scoring-record-video-fans-on-the-field-celebration-score","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/537740\/","title":{"rendered":"Roosters defeat Rabbitohs, Alex Johnston breaks try-scoring record, video, fans on the field, celebration, score"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cScenes that will last forever\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s how Fox League\u2019s Dan Ginnane described the mayhem that ensued at Allianz Stadium after Souths winger Alex Johnston broke the all-time NRL tryscoring record during his side\u2019s 26-18 loss to the Roosters.<\/p>\n<p>MATCH CENTRE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/nrl\/nrl-premiership\/match-centre\/NRL20260203\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Roosters v Rabbitohs, stats, scores, live blog<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img class=\"i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-fallback.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>WHAT&#8217;S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n<p>Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | <a href=\"https:\/\/kayosports.com.au\/?pg=default&amp;extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkleague-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-nrl-kyo&amp;channel=fsa&amp;campaign=fsacontra&amp;voucher=\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Johnston won the night, but it would be the Roosters spoiling the party, running out eight-point winners.<\/p>\n<p>The historic moment occurred not even a minute into the second half, when Johnston was put into the clear by Latrell Mitchell and galloped 40 metres to score.<\/p>\n<p>The NRL repeatedly fired warnings to fans pre-game and during the game to not to storm the field if the record-breaking moment happened, but they fell on deaf ears as thousands of Rabbitohs and Roosters fans wanted to be apart of history.<\/p>\n<p>It led to a delay of about 15 minutes before play resumed, with security and ground staff doing well to usher rowdy fans back into the stands.<\/p>\n<p>Thousands ran onto the ground to celebrate the historic moment.Source: FOX SPORTSAlex Johnston being mobbed by the fans after his record-breaking try.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is a tremendous moment. It leaves you speechless.\u201d &#8211; Greg Alexander said on Fox League.<\/p>\n<p>When play did get back underway, Mitchell cooly slotted the conversion to make it a 12-all game with 39 minutes on the clock.<\/p>\n<p>After the dust settled, the rest of the contest was a bit of a grind, albeit entertaining with both teams running hard and laying on some big hits in defence. <\/p>\n<p>An outstanding effort from last year\u2019s top tryscorer Mark Nawaqanitawase broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute.<\/p>\n<p>It was a lovely flick pass from Rob Toia but even so, the ex-Wallaby had a bit to do from ten metres out, winning the race to the try line and somehow putting it down before being tackled into touch as several Souths players descended.<\/p>\n<p>A Sam Walker penalty goal put the Chooks up by eight, but the Rabbitohs made it a game when Campbell Graham scored with ten to play.<\/p>\n<p>Mitchell nailed the conversion to trim the margin to two but after a willing final few minutes, James Tedesco\u2019s 79th minute try put the icing on the cake.<\/p>\n<p>For the Roosters, it\u2019s their first win of the young season while the Bunnies drop to 1-1 after the loss.<\/p>\n<p>BIG HITS<\/p>\n<p>AJ\u2019S MOMENT<\/p>\n<p>Alex Johnston soaked it all in after the final siren and deservingly so. It was his moment. <\/p>\n<p>The NRL held a brief ceremony post-game with Prime Minister and Souths superfan Anthony Albanese presenting Johnston with the game ball.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know what to say, I\u2019ll keep it short and sweet,\u201d Johnston said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst and foremost to the fans, I just saw the footage of everyone running onto the field. Pretty special to be apart of that so thank you for making it a special evening. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t thank my kids, partner and teammates enough. I couldn\u2019t have done it without you all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kayosports.com.au\/?pg=default&amp;extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkleague-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-nrl-kyo&amp;channel=fsa&amp;campaign=fsacontra&amp;voucher=\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kayosports.com.au\/?pg=default&amp;extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkleague-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-nrl-kyo&amp;channel=fsa&amp;campaign=fsacontra&amp;voucher=\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">CHERRY RIPE<\/p>\n<p>The knives were out for Daly Cherry-Evans after his Roosters debut ended in disaster across the ditch.<\/p>\n<p>But the former Manly halfback reminded people that he\u2019s far from a spent force as he danced his way through the defence to open the scoring.<\/p>\n<p>Last week\u2019s defensive issues look to have been fixed as the Roosters tightened things up, with star winger Daniel Tupou continuing his magnificent try-scoring record with a powerful solo effort.<\/p>\n<p>It was their other winger who scored what would be the decisive try as Mark Nawaqanitawase came up with another special play in the right corner to somehow stay in and plant the ball to spoil the South Sydney party.<\/p>\n<p>Skipper James Tedesco then pounced on a Cherry-Evans grubber in the final minute as things threatened to boil over.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Martin Gabor (NCA Newswire)<\/p>\n<p>SPECIAL TRIBUTE<\/p>\n<p>It was an emotional night at Allianz Stadium with the victims of the horrific Bondi terror attack honoured before kick-off in front of a sold-out crowd.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo see Allianz Stadium sold out tonight for our first home game of the season is a testament to one of the great traditions of our game,\u201d Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur members and supporters consistently create an incredible atmosphere at Allianz Stadium, and we know tonight will be no different.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Roosters clearly aren\u2019t keen on celebrating the milestone, with the words \u201cvisiting team\u201d appearing where the Rabbitohs would normally be on the scoreboard.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Martin Gabor (NCA Newswire)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kayosports.com.au\/?pg=default&amp;extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkleague-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-nrl-kyo&amp;channel=fsa&amp;campaign=fsacontra&amp;voucher=\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION IN THE LIVE BLOG BELOW! CAN\u2019T SEE IT? <a href=\"https:\/\/go.arena.im\/live\/fox-sports-australia\/i3Z9HcN?v=2\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">CLICK HERE!<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 4. Robert Toia 19. Junior Pauga 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Benaiah Ioelu 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Egan Butcher 14. Connor Watson 15. Blake Steep 16. Nat Butcher 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Cody Ramsey 21. Tom Rodwell 22. Taylor Losalu<\/p>\n<p>Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Euan Aitken 13. Cameron Murray 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Lachlan Hubner 17. Sean Keppie 18. Latrell Siegwalt 19. Moala Graham-Taufa 21. Thomas Fletcher<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cScenes that will last forever\u201d. That\u2019s how Fox League\u2019s Dan Ginnane described the mayhem that ensued at Allianz&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":537741,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":["post-537740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nrl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/537740","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=537740"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/537740\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/537741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=537740"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=537740"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=537740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}