In a ceremony brimming with humor and heartfelt emotion, South Sydney Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston was honored with a permanent statue at the club’s Maroubra headquarters, commemorating his unprecedented achievement as the National Rugby League’s all-time leading tryscorer. The unveiling, attended by teammates, club officials, local mayor, and the NRL CEO, was punctuated by Johnston’s signature wit. “Along the way there have been a few fans who have sh*t on me, there’s been a few coaches who have sh*t on me, the media has sh*t on me,” he quipped. “And now the pigeons can sh*t on me.”
The statue, conceived by devoted Rabbitohs supporter Danny Taibel, became a reality following Johnston’s historic double against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night, which propelled him past Ken Irvine’s 53-year-old record of 212 tries. The initiative traces back to a 2023 proposal from Taibel to Souths CEO Blake Solly, inspired by a prophetic encounter a decade earlier. Taibel recounted how his then 11-year-old son, Ryan, directly asked then-coach Michael Maguire about a replacement for departing winger Andrew Everingham. Maguire confidently identified a young Souths junior named Alex Johnston, predicting he possessed the potential to become “one of the superstars of the game.”
Reflecting on the monumental record and the ensuing pandemonium, Johnston described the surreal experience. The match at Allianz Stadium erupted when thousands of fans stormed the field after his record-breaking try just one minute into the second half—a moment so overwhelming Johnston admitted to feeling genuine fear amidst the adulation. “When I got put back down, and everyone was trying to get a piece, I legitimately was scared for a second,” he revealed. Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined the pitch invasion, disregarding potential fines.
Beyond the public celebration, Johnston cherished a tender private moment with his young daughter, who intuitively recognized the significance of the event. The winger, still processing the magnitude of his accomplishment, also showcased a custom ring crafted to honor his legacy. While discussions emerge about potentially renaming the Ken Irvine Medal for the season’s top tryscorer in his honor, Johnston remains humbly content with the tributes already bestowed upon him, stating, “I think I’ve been spoiled enough.”