Fresh off becoming the NRL’s all-time leading try scorer, Alex Johnston has revealed he is open to leaving the Rabbitohs, putting his hand up to become a marquee signing for the PNG Chiefs ahead of their inaugural season in 2028.
Johnston surpassed the great Ken Irvine on Friday night, crossing for his 212th and 213th tries in a loss to the Sydney Roosters to become the all-time top try scorer.
The 31-year-old was mobbed by fans, with the beloved Souths great even given a statue after his incredible feat.
However, fans who hoped that Johnston would finish a one-club player could be bitterly disappointed with Johnston expressing his desire to join the Chiefs.
“I’m signed for this year and next year at Souths, and after that, if I’ve still got some miles to go in the legs, I’ll definitely be talking to the Chiefs,” Johnston revealed to Nine’s 100% Footy.
“It would be pretty cool to be one of the first signed for a Papua New Guinean team.
“They absolutely love footy over there, and I’ve got a good relationship with the fans and the prime minister over there. I think that’s something I’d look forward to.”
Johnston has already played for and captained Papua New Guinea at the international level and is now in undoubtedly on the wish list of the NRL expansion side.
The winger would likely be a leading candidate for captaincy honours if he were to join PNG as well, and it would be a fitting way to round out his illustrious career in the Melanesian country.
He is one of only a handful of players to publicly state their desire to represent the Chiefs, with Sharks forward Toby Rudolf and Super League star Gairo Voro also expressing desire
NRL urged to change name of Ken Irvine Medal
Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly has led calls to change the name of the Ken Irvine Medal, awarded to the top tryscorer in the NRL each season, to the Johnston-Irvine Medal as a way to honour both legends of the game.
“The medal is named after Ken because of a) he had the record and b) his contribution to the game,” Solly told NRL.com
“Now AJ’s got the record, it’s absolutely right that AJ’s there, but we should never forget all of the great things Ken did for our game. It’s fitting that it would be named the Johnston-Irvine Medal.
“One of the great things about this is the support AJ’s had from the Irvine family all the way through and the respect AJ has for Ken and everything he achieved in the game.
