Souths star Alex Johnston has revealed how a cranky Wayne Bennett was in no mood to help the club’s social media team mark his record-breaking try last Friday night.
Shortly after celebrating with the crowd after breaking Ken Irvine’s 57-year-old NRL record, Johnston and his teammates were waiting in the dressing rooms for the field to clear.
A Souths social media worker tried to capture the moment as Johnston’s teammates were congratulating him during the break in play.
But Bennett, who was sternly against a pitch invasion to celebrate Johnston’s feat, stopped the club’s social media team from trying to attach a microphone to the winger’s jersey.
‘One of our media guys actually clipped one of the recorders on me, and he (Bennett) saw it and ran over, grabbed it and threw it away,’ Johnston said on 100% Footy on Monday night.
‘Which was fair enough, I didn’t really want it on either.’
Souths coach Wayne Bennett is pictured with the microphone he tore off winger Alex Johnston on Friday night, shortly after the Bunnies star broke the NRL try-scoring record
Bennett was against fans rushing the field to celebrate Johnston’s incredible feat
Bennett (pictured top left) was unusually vocal with his players after Johnston set the new mark on Friday at Allianz Stadium
As the players were waiting for the game to resume in the dressing rooms, Bennett made a beeline for Johnston and took the microphone off his shirt before throwing it away.
The veteran coach was unusually vocal during the break in play as he tried to keep his players focused on the task at hand: beating the Roosters.
It didn’t work as South Sydney’s bitter rivals got away with an eight-point win at Allianz Stadium.
Johnston paid tribute to Bennett post-match and said he likely wouldn’t have broken the try-scoring record in Souths colours if it weren’t for the supercoach.
‘I was pretty much out the door at South Sydney, and fortunately for myself I wrote this letter and gave a little spiel about why I want to stay and I went into a meeting and was told the news there’s actually no room for me,’ Johnston said.
‘I ended up breaking down crying and said “take the letter anyway”. Wayne got his hands on it and he told me that letter pretty much saved me.’
Meanwhile, Johnston has given the strongest indication yet he could finish his career at the PNG Chiefs, with Souths unlikely to stand in the way of the record-breaking try-scorer.
Fresh off breaking Irvine’s mark on Friday night, Johnston on Monday had a statue of him unveiled at Rabbitohs headquarters.
Johnston poses with his statue on Monday
Alex Johnston celebrates with his family after becoming the highest try scorer in the NRL during the match between the Roosters and Souths at Allianz Stadium
The 31-year-old gave the statue the tick of approval, while joking he would now become a victim of bird faeces outside Heffron Park.
‘The majority of my footy career has been overwhelmingly positive, but along the way a few fans have s*** on me,’ Johnston said.
‘There have been a few coaches who have s*** on me, the media has s*** on me – now the pigeons can s*** on me.’
Johnston’s feat also attracted a letter from Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, along with celebrations across the country.
Of Torres Strait Islander and PNG descent, Johnston has played 12 Tests for the Kumuls since 2019.
The winger is off contract next year, and will likely be a priority target for the Chiefs when they enter the competition in 2028.
‘They just love rugby league so much over there, the Chiefs, every week they’ll get massive support,’ Johnston said. ‘It’s something I probably want to be a part of.’
Asked how much he had to weigh up over the coming year, Johnston admitted there were emotional lures both ways.
‘It’d be cool to be the first signature over there, but I bleed red and green. I’ve still got this year and next year at the club,’ he said.
‘I love this club. I’ve always wanted to be a one-club player, and I’m in this position now. Things could go either way.’
