Alex Johnston Considers PNG Chiefs Move as Souths Unveils Statue
South Sydney Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has provided the clearest signal yet that he could conclude his illustrious rugby league career with the Papua New Guinea Chiefs, with the Rabbitohs indicating they would not obstruct such a transition. This development follows Johnston's historic achievement of breaking Ken Irvine's long-standing NRL tryscoring record last Friday night, a milestone that has sparked widespread celebration.
Statue Unveiled at Rabbitohs Headquarters
On Monday, Johnston was honoured with the unveiling of a life-sized statue at South Sydney's headquarters, a tribute funded by dedicated supporter Danny Taibel. The statue, crafted in Thailand three years ago, had been stored until this momentous occasion. Johnston humorously remarked that the monument would now face the inevitable fate of bird droppings outside Heffron Park, quipping, "The majority of my footy career has been overwhelmingly positive, but along the way a few fans have shit on me. There have been a few coaches who have shit on me, the media has shit on me – now the pigeons can shit on me."
Record-Breaking Achievement and Emotional Ties
Johnston admitted that surpassing Irvine's record of 212 tries had been a goal since late 2022, though a 2024 achilles injury briefly jeopardised his pursuit. The 31-year-old's accomplishment drew congratulations from Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, highlighting Johnston's heritage as a Torres Strait Islander and PNG descendant, and his 12 Tests for the Kumuls since 2019.
With his contract expiring next year, Johnston is poised to be a prime target for the PNG Chiefs upon their NRL entry in 2028. He expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating, "They just love rugby league so much over there, the Chiefs, every week they'll get massive support. It's something I probably want to be a part of." However, he acknowledged the emotional pull of remaining a one-club player at Souths, saying, "I bleed red and green. I've still got this year and next year at the club. If I'm still kicking and still got some miles on these legs, I'll go from there and see where I end up."
South Sydney's Supportive Stance
South Sydney CEO Blake Solly confirmed the club's supportive approach, noting that Johnston's contract includes a clause allowing him to join the Chiefs at any time as their inaugural signing. Solly emphasised, "We understand how strong AJ's connection is with Papua New Guinea. In many ways, it would be such a great moment for the game if he was their inaugural player signed." Additionally, Solly advocated for renaming the NRL's leading tryscorer award to the Johnston-Irvine medal, recognising both players' contributions to rugby league.
As Johnston weighs his future, the rugby league community watches closely, balancing his legacy at South Sydney with the potential for a groundbreaking move to the PNG Chiefs.
