{"id":328372,"date":"2026-03-13T22:08:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T22:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/328372\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T22:08:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T22:08:13","slug":"fans-storm-field-as-alex-johnston-breaks-nrl-try-scoring-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/328372\/","title":{"rendered":"Fans storm field as Alex Johnston breaks NRL try-scoring record"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"South<\/p>\n

\nSouth Sydney’s Alex Johnston has broken the NRL try scoring record.
\nPhoto: ABC\n<\/p>\n

Alex Johnston has become the greatest try-scorer in Australian rugby league history with a double against the Roosters, prompting fans to ignore the NRL’s pleas not to storm the field<\/a> to celebrate.<\/p>\n

The Rabbitohs lost the game 26-18 but it will forever be remembered for Johnston’s moments, tying the record on the end of a trademark left-side shift just before half-time and then breaking the record as he finished off an 80-metre team effort a minute into the second half.<\/p>\n

HISTORY MADE pic.twitter.com\/U8FC4oztYg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NRL (@NRL) March 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

His second try of the night took him to 213 for his career, eclipsing Ken Irvine, who had sat in top spot since 1969<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fans hopped the fence and mobbed Johnston, who was protected by security guards and teammates and was hoisted onto the shoulders of Cameron Murray and Campbell Graham.<\/p>\n

“Pretty awesome, the crowd running on,” Johnston told ABC Sport after the game.<\/p>\n

“Hopefully there were no fines.<\/p>\n

“There was a lot of people out there. It really made it a special moment for me.”<\/p>\n

The NRL had repeatedly, including a few hours before the game, warned fans they risked a A$5500 (NZ$6650) fine if they stormed the field but the pleas fell on deaf ears.<\/p>\n

Johnston said it was an amazing moment to feel that support, but it quickly turned uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

“I enjoyed it for about a minute and then I was like ‘get me out of here’,” he told reporters.<\/p>\n

“It was pretty crazy, it was full on. I honestly was struggling to breathe and it was so hot in there. There was so many people tugging me and trying to get a piece, but it was an awesome feeling that first minute for sure.”<\/p>\n

\"Fans<\/p>\n

\nFans storm the field to celebrate South Sydney’s Alex Johnston breaking the NRL try scoring record.
\nPhoto: ABC\n<\/p>\n

Even Souths fans and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was on the field briefly after the players were ushered off, and Johnston said he spoke to him but moved on quickly.<\/p>\n

“Yep, next question,” he said in the post-match press conference.<\/p>\n

Opposition captain James Tedesco said it was a “crazy” moment to be a part of.<\/p>\n

“Once a couple of people jumped over the fence they all started coming,” he told reporters after the game.<\/p>\n

“We stood on the sideline and watched people running on; there were kids to 80-year-olds out there.<\/p>\n

“It was pretty wild\u2026 pretty crazy scenes.”<\/p>\n

The players were ushered into the sheds by security, after which the fans were quickly dispersed back into the stands, with Johnston re-emerging after a 15-minute break wearing a gold number as Australian premiership rugby league’s greatest try-scorer.<\/p>\n

The Roosters enjoyed the better second half as they sealed a victory over their cross-town rivals, but the night belonged to Johnston, who is happy to get back to playing footy now.<\/p>\n

“This is a massive monkey off my back,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I wanted to get it over and done with \u2026 and we can get back to team footy and get the season back on track.”<\/p>\n

Earlier, the Warriors scored 40 unanswered points to beat the Raiders 40-6 in Auckland.<\/p>\n

– ABC<\/p>\n