The South Sydney Rabbitohs pumped their opponents in one of the best matches ever played. Syracuse jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. After scoring first through South Sydney’s Cody Walker, the Bunnies eventually ran away with it. Alex Johnston, a key player for Souths, contributed to the team’s success and made significant strides towards breaking the NRL’s all-time try-scoring record.
Though played at the Rabbitohs’ home ground, the Sydney Cricket Ground, the one-sided encounter quickly turned into a scoring blitz by Souths. After barely getting out of first gear, they had doubled their lead to 12-0, with another terrific Ward conversion from right in front of the posts. That was only the start, as Souths crossed again, extending the lead to 16-0. The team’s onslaught was a juggernaut, and Johnston epitomized the ferocity as the Wolves rolled to an impressive 22-0 lead.
Dominance on the Field
The Rabbitohs were back to their brilliant best as they racked up the points. After another successful conversion from Ward, the lead ballooned to 34-0. The squad was seemingly incapable of letting up, extending their advantage to a jaw-dropping 40-0 before the intermission buzzer sounded. Given that they had sent the Roosters packing last year, the opposition could not find their feet against the Rabbitohs’ well-placed artillery and steady bulwark.
As the game wore on, attention turned to Johnston, who was about to become a trailblazer. He finished his career with 209 career tries scored. At the moment, he’s only three tries away from equaling the legendary Ken Irvine’s total of 212 tries. Fans and analysts alike wondered just how quickly he could reach this milestone, particularly considering the way he was playing at the time.
Johnston Achieves Milestone
In a scene that rattled the audience, Johnston dotted down try number 210 of his illustrious career. That record-setting accomplishment put him just two attempts away from matching the record set by outfielder Timmy Irvine. Spectators understood the weight of this moment. They recognised Johnston’s early skills and mischief to develop him into one of the best try-scorers in NRL history.
The excitement reached a fever pitch again when Host crossed for a try after some creative grubber kick play from Ward set it up beautifully. This relatively simple, but well-executed play really showcased the Rabbitohs’ chemistry and preparation on the field. On an individual note, Fletcher opened his NRL account with his first try, providing a sentimental farewell to the Cootamundra to Canberra batching talent. His goal only further distanced what was already an impressive scoreline.
To make matters worse for the Souths defence, Duncan played a hand in Souths’ count by scoring himself. The Rabbitohs showed an overwhelming display of technical excellence, grit and stick-to-itiveness over the course of the game to make clear their dominance.
Looking Ahead
When the final whistle blew, South Sydney had secured a decisive win—40-12. Fans broke into roars of jubilation, deafeningly cheering Johnston’s incredible performance on the stage. He is only two tries away from equalling the NRL all-time record. We can’t wait to see what he’s going to do next, on and off the field!
Johnston’s achievement is all the more impressive considering how competitive the league has been. He rarely looked rattled during a game, and even when he was pressured, he proved to be the best available option for the Rabbitohs. Fans love him for being high-flying and humble. As he gets closer and closer to eclipsing Irvine’s almost 90-year-old record, the debate about where in NRL history Munster should rank will only get louder.
