On 13 March 2026, South Sydney Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston etched his name into rugby league immortality. With two tries against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium, he moved to 213 career tries, surpassing the 212-try mark held by legend Ken Irvine since his final appearance on 15 September 1973 — a record that had stood untouched for 53 years.
Every one of his 852 points has come from tries. Here is the timeline of his extraordinary road to the record.
2014: The explosive debut
Embed from Getty ImagesJohnston burst onto the scene as a 19-year-old, scoring 21 tries in his rookie NRL season. He announced himself as a future great, finishing the year with 84 points and already showing the blistering pace and finishing ability that would define him.
2015–2019: Building the foundation
Embed from Getty Images- 2015: +17 tries (total 38)
- 2016: +11 tries (total 49)
- 2017: +22 tries (total 71)
- 2018: +8 tries (total 79)
- 2019: +4 tries (total 83)
Even in leaner years he remained a constant threat, particularly against traditional rivals. By the end of the decade he had already scored multiple tries against every club in the competition.
2020: The breakout year
A resurgent Rabbitohs side saw Johnston explode for 23 tries, pushing his career tally past the century mark to 106. He was now firmly established as one of the most dangerous wingers in the game.
2021–2022: The golden era
Embed from Getty ImagesThese two seasons will live long in Rabbitohs folklore:
- 2021: 30 tries (career total 136)
- 2022: another 30 tries (career total 166)
He became only the second player in history to score 30 tries in back-to-back seasons. Highlights included a five-try haul against the Sydney Roosters and multiple hat-tricks. The 2021 and 2022 campaigns alone accounted for 60 tries in 48 games.
2023–2024: Steady accumulation
- 2023: +21 tries (total 187)
- 2024: +8 tries (total 195)
Injuries and team transition slowed his scoring rate, but he remained clinical. By the end of 2024 he sat just 17 tries short of the magic 212.
2025: The final approach
Embed from Getty ImagesJohnston added another 15 tries to finish the season on 210 — tantalisingly close. He entered 2026 knowing the record was within touching distance.
March 2026: History in nine days
- 8 March 2026 – Round 1 vs Dolphins (Suncorp Stadium): 1 try → 211 career tries
- 13 March 2026 – Round 2 vs Sydney Roosters (Allianz Stadium): 2 tries → 212 (record-breaking try) and 213
The 212th try came against the very club he has tormented more than any other — he now has 20 career tries against the Roosters, the most of any opponent. Fittingly, the record fell at Allianz Stadium which most Rabbitohs fans call the club’s spiritual home.
Career notes that make the achievement even more remarkable
- Total tries: 213
- Most prolific venues: Stadium Australia/Accor Stadium (96 tries)
- Most tries against one opponent: Sydney Roosters, Wests Tigers (20)
- Seasons with 20+ tries: 2014, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Who’s next in line to become the greatest try scorer in Australian Rugby League history?
Among the current generation of NRL players, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (the “Hammer”) stands out as the most realistic candidate to one day challenge Alex Johnston’s new benchmark of 213 career tries.
At 24 years old (born 5 September 2001), Tabuai-Fidow has already accumulated 75 NRL tries through the early rounds of 2026, across 109 club appearances (50 with the North Queensland Cowboys from 2020–2022 and 59 with the Dolphins since 2023). His scoring rate has accelerated dramatically in recent seasons, highlighted by:
- 15 tries in 2023 (Dolphins debut year)
- 15 tries in 2024 (in just 16 games)
- 22 tries in 2025 (finishing as one of the competition’s top try-scorers)
- Early 2026 form showing he remains a prolific finisher, including multiple tries in the opening rounds.
If Tabuai-Fidow maintains good health, continues playing 20+ games per season, and benefits from any future rule changes or attacking trends that boost try-scoring opportunities league-wide, reaching 213 tries is within the realm of possibility.
To hit that mark from his current 75 tries, he would need roughly 138 more tries. Averaging around 23 tries per season over the next six years (a high but not unprecedented bar, given his 22-try 2025 output) would get him there by age 30 — still prime years for a dynamic fullback/winger with his speed and finishing ability.
While no one is guaranteed to match Johnston’s remarkable longevity and consistency, the Hammer’s explosive athleticism, positional versatility, and recent scoring form make him the standout young talent most likely to mount a serious pursuit of the all-time record in the years ahead.
Ken Irvine’s record was set in an era of fewer games and different defensive structures. Johnston has done it in the modern, ultra-physical, full-time professional NRL — while playing through multiple rebuilds at Souths and delivering in finals series (including grand final tries in 2014 and 2021).
The record that stood for more than half a century now belongs to a quiet, humble PNG International who simply kept turning up and scoring. Alex Johnston didn’t just break the record — he rewrote the history books with pace, consistency, and pure finishing class.
213 tries. Record broken. Legend status confirmed.
