{"id":473809,"date":"2026-03-13T17:35:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T17:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/473809\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T17:35:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T17:35:10","slug":"mass-pitch-invasion-halts-nrl-game-as-rugby-league-history-made","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/473809\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass pitch invasion halts NRL game as rugby league history made"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"NRL\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

A mass pitch invasion brought a halt to this morning\u2019s NRL clash between Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs, with history being made.<\/p>\n

Shortly after the interval at the Allianz Stadium, Alex Johnston touched down for his second try of the game against the Roosters and what followed was pure pandemonium.<\/p>\n

The try not only gave Souths the opportunity to pull level in the game, through the boot of Latrell Mitchell, but it also saw Johnston break the all-time NRL try scoring record.<\/p>\n

The effort, which came following a break from Mitchell, who set Johnston away down the left edge, was the winger\u2019s 213th in the NRL and that saw him surpass the late, great Ken Irvine as the greatest finisher in the Australian game since records began in 1908.<\/p>\n

Johnston was immediately mobbed by his teammates, who recognised the moment and the feat, but they were soon joined by fans of both sides, who spilled onto the playing surface at the Allianz to celebrate and congratulate the winger.<\/p>\n

Thousands of supporters left their seats to enter the pitch, producing some remarkable pictures for Fox Sports to broadcast.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the players were forced to leave the field and head down the tunnel to regroup while those fans left the field and returned to their seats, with play being brought to a halt for more than 15 minutes.<\/p>\n

HISTORY MADE \ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/U8FC4oztYg<\/a><\/p>\n

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

\u201cI love it,\u201d Adam Reynolds, Johnston\u2019s former Souths teammate, said on the broadcast. \u201cI\u2019m so proud of AJ and everything he\u2019s accomplished.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know this will be a big moment for him and his family and he\u2019s worked extremely hard as a Souths junior to get to where he is. I played some part in his career and set up his first try. Magical scenes out there but player safety has to be first and foremost.\u201d<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc10 #AirTouch<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/bGxlegwgHT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 South Sydney Rabbitohs \ud83d\udc30 (@SSFCRABBITOHS) March 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Cooper Cronk added: \u201cThat is the greatest moment in our game\u2019s history for a long period of time. Since 1969 Ken Irvine has held the record, that\u2019s 57 years. Alex Johnston tonight has just become the greatest of all time in terms of scoring tries and those scenes of the players, family and friends, I know security is key, the scenes are unbelievable and this will be replayed for years and years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnston re-emerged for the rest of the second half, having changed his jersey to one with a golden number two on the back.<\/p>\n

RFL error, coaches under pressure and Super League\u2019s injury crisis \u2013 click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show<\/a><\/p>\n

EPIC SCENES: A night @SSFCRABBITOHS<\/a> and @sydneyroosters<\/a> fans and Alex Johnston will NEVER forget. WOW. What scenes pic.twitter.com\/WxqeNXNSFN<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 christian nicolussi (@mrchrisnico) March 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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