Alex Johnston has entered the second slot of the all-time try-scoring list, crossing the 200-try threshold during a June 2025 fixture against the Warriors. He remains the only player besides Ken Irvine to hit this number in first-grade history. This milestone occurred despite a South Sydney loss, where individual velocity failed to mend a broken defensive line.
"Johnston completed his treble and joined Irvine in the 200 club." — Match Report, June 2025
Alex Johnston is now 12 tries away from Ken Irvine’s all-time record of 212.
The Treble: Johnston secured his 200th try via a hat-trick.
The Intercept: One score involved a 90-meter sprint following a stray pass from the Warriors' Metcalf.
The Context: While Johnston climbed the ladder, the Rabbitohs suffered a defeat, highlighting the gap between individual scoring and team results.
Support: Latrell Mitchell contributed a late crash-over try and conversion, though it served only to tighten the scoreline in the final minutes.
The Scoring Hierarchy
| Player | Tries | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ken Irvine | 212 | Retired |
| Alex Johnston | 200 | Active |
| Billy Slater | 190 | Retired |
Mitchell’s Gravity and the 2024 Shift
Prior to the 200-try milestone, the Rabbitohs showed more cohesive force in mid-2024. During a June 14 match at Accor Stadium, South Sydney dismantled the Brisbane Broncos 22-12. This match functioned as a public audition for Latrell Mitchell, who was then pursuing a return to the State of Origin arena.
Mitchell's Output: Recorded 175 meters, one try, one assist, and five tackle busts.
The Milestone Shift: It was this night that Johnston moved into the outright second place, scoring his 191st try and displacing Billy Slater.
The Streak: At that juncture, the Rabbitohs had accumulated 110 points across three games, a period of high efficiency that eventually tapered off by the 2025 season.
The Friction of the Origin Cycle
The NRL schedule continues to exert pressure on club rosters. During the 2024 win, the Broncos were noted as heading into a bye with several players detached for state duties. This cycle of player drainage often dictates the rhythm of mid-season results more than actual tactical superiority.
Read More: Cameron Boozer's Duke Debut: Will his high school scoring average of 14.3 points translate?
Background: The Long Grind toward 212
The chase for Ken Irvine’s record has defined Johnston’s career for the last three seasons. Irvine’s record of 212 tries has stood since 1973, surviving the transition from the amateur era to the heavy industrialism of modern professional league.
Johnston’s ascent is characterized by high-volume wing play and a reliance on the creative gravity of players like Mitchell and Koloamatangi. While the 2024 season saw Souths bouncing between dominant scoring bursts, the 2025 results suggest a team struggling to win even as their primary finisher reaches statistical immortality.
The latest reports from March 2026 suggest Johnston remains the focal point of the Souths' attack, continuing to "swoop and score" as the gap between him and Irvine closes to single digits.
Read More: Latrell Mitchell moves to centre for Rabbitohs in May 2025 to stop team losses and fix defense