Alex Johnston may have moved into third-equal spot in the premiership's all-time tryscorers' charts, but there’s only one record he’s particularly worried about right now.
“I’m more focused on being the top tryscorer for the team right now,” he said after the Rabbitohs thumping 28-6 win over the Warriors in Auckland.
“I finally caught Campbell (Graham) with 14, so hopefully he stays out a couple more weeks and I can move ahead of him.”
To say it shouldn’t have been a night for wingers is a bit of an understatement, with a polar blast sweeping up New Zealand on Friday and unloading steady rain on Mt Smart Stadium for the duration of the match.
Johnston said that he enjoyed the conditions and the atmosphere of the 22,000-strong crowd.
“The crowd was amazing for staying out in the rain. After last week we just wanted to bring some energy back, I think we did that tonight.”
Johnston’s Rabbitohs came in smarting after a 31-6 loss to the Cowboys, against a Warriors side riding the momentum of three impressive wins in a row.
Johnston’s first try, a classic winger’s finish in the corner, started to help turn the tide after the Rabbitohs had conceded almost all the territory and possession thus far.
“I think we’ve set ourselves up nicely despite the way we played last week. We’ve got a good run home so if we get some good wins we can definitely push the top four and that number one spot.”
His second was a slick combination with Cody Walker, who was outstanding at five eighth. Walker pulled the strings and tormented the Warriors’ right edge, delivering a perfect kick for Johnston to grab and dive over. Those were his 179th and 180th tries in a 207-game career that started in 2014, spent entirely at South Sydney.
While the tried and true veterans made their mark on that side of the park, second-year halfback Lachlan Ilias put in a kick of his own to set up a try for debutant Tyrone Munro. The impressive 18-year-old Munro has come from the Rabbitohs SG Ball side to first grade in just one season.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Johnston about Munro, who he roomed with on the trip to New Zealand.
“I remember at the start of the year watching him play SG, then (Jersey) Flegg and (NSW) Cup. And then to debut like that, it’s just a testament to how much work he’s put in. He’s here now and hopefully he can keep shining in a lot more games to come.”
Johnston said that the big win “brought some energy back to a Rabbitohs team that had only won one out of their last four games, and were in serious danger of dropping out of an intensely competitive top eight picture.
Johnston says that’s the priority for now. While milestones are nice, they can always wait.
“I’ll keep scoring tries and whatever happens, happens. Hopefully one day I’ll be at the top.”
