‘Worth it’: Souths tragic Albanese has no regrets over $5500 fine for storming field for AJ record

Anthony Albanese says any possible fine for storming the field to celebrate the Rabbitohs’ Alex Johnston becoming the greatest tryscorer of all time on Friday night was “worth it to be part of history”.

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The Prime Minister was among thousands of fans who swarmed onto the field at Allianz Stadium after Johnston scored his second try of the game a minute into the second half, overtaking Ken Irvine’s 1973 record of 212 tries.

After scoring one in the first half, Johnston made history when he latched onto a Latrell Mitchell pass to race away and score which led to thousands of people storming onto the Allianz Stadium surface, including Mr Albanese.

Asked after the game whether he would be fined for joining the on-field chaos, Mr Albanese told Nine: “It was worth it to be part of history.

“I was on the Souths board when we got kicked out of the comp and 100,000 people marched through the streets of Sydney – ‘South Sydney ‘til I die’, as the slogan went.

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“A great moment for Alex Johnston – he’s been an extraordinary player but he’s also a great man, he’s so humble – and it was a great moment for rugby league and a great moment for South Sydney.”

It’s unlikely Mr Albanese will cop a $5500 fine or a two-year ban, but it would be worth it after he got to see the Rabbitohs legend celebrate the magical milestone on the biggest stage.

“I’ve already done about a thousand interviews, so I’m just trying to let it sink in,” Johnston said after the game, with the fans rushing onto the field even though Souths coach Wayne Bennett urged them not to do it.

“So I’m sure I’ll get home and shower up and see what the boys are doing and then after maybe a couple of beers it might finally sink in.

“It’s a pretty special feeling and I know Wayne didn’t want the people to run on, but selfishly it was a good moment for me and to be lifted up on Campbell (Graham) and someone else’s shoulders.

“I didn’t expect to get it that quick after halftime. If it was going to happen it either should have been me getting the game-winning try or just after halftime like that. I think that ended up being all right.

“I enjoyed it for about a minute and then I was like ‘get me out of here’. It was pretty crazy. It was full on like I honestly was struggling to breathe and it was so hot in there, there were so many people you know tugging me and pulling … just trying to get a piece.

“So after about a minute I was just like all right, get me back in the sheds. But it was an awesome feeling that first minute for sure.”

Play was stopped for 16 minutes with security arresting several fans, with the Roosters responding better than their opponents after the delay to run out 26-18 victors.

Johnston was just glad he was able to break the record two games into the season rather than it dragging on for months.

The winger hasn’t traditionally enjoyed talking about scoring tries, but he made an exception on Friday after Mitchell set up both tries a week after he chose not to pass him the ball when he was wide open.

“Oh this is a massive monkey off my back,” the 2014 grand final winner said.

“It’s probably something that’s been in the back of my mind and something I just really wanted to get done as soon as possible.

“And I was a bit cut last week that Latrell didn’t pass me that ball. Even then, that’s not the try I would want to get it with. But just because I wanted to get it over and done with and go back to trying to win games of footy and focusing on that rather than scoring these tries.

“So I’m glad it’s finally over and I’m sure Wayne is as well and we can get back to team footy and get this season back on track.”

Bennett didn’t want to talk about the record on Friday night given it’s dominated headlines all week, with the master coach disappointed that the halt in play interrupted his side’s momentum.

“It had to happen, it was how it happened after that we had no control over,” he lamented.

“But the point is that I’ve coached nearly a thousand games and that hasn’t happened before, but it’s a pretty special time.”

Roosters coach Trent Robinson openly said he didn’t want Johnston to break the record in their backyard, but he felt it was “legendary” after seeing such a significant milestone happen before his eyes.

“I think Wayne and I were talking after the game, he’s seen a lot more milestones than I have,” he said

“To see a milestone like that in our game is legendary. To see someone break the try-scoring record and to be a person like AJ is (great). I’ve met him a few different times and how humble he is and how beautiful he is at his craft.

“The man knows how to score tries and his speed and his balance and all of that, it’s just incredible for him to achieve that. In the end, we didn’t want to be a part of it, but to be honest, it was really great to see him achieve that tonight.”

Daly Cherry-Evans has played 354 NRL games but had never seen anything like the scenes on the field with the fans which reminded him of a major moment in the AFL.

“I remember sitting at home watching Buddy Franklin get swarmed when he beat the record so I had a feeling based on the talk that was going around that it might happen,” he said.

“I didn’t want it to happen tonight, but the fact that it did happen and we got the win, I can walk away knowing that we got the best of both worlds tonight.

“We saw something very special – a rugby league record that we thought may never be touched – and it just got broken.

“Huge credit to Alex and all the hard work that he’s put in. What a special night for him and his family.”

Roosters halfback Sam Walker ran up the tunnel once he saw the chaos unfolding, while skipper James Tedesco stayed on the field to soak it all in.

“It was pretty wild, it was something I’ve never experienced on the footy field before,” the Roosters fullback said.

“We obviously didn’t want it to happen, but you’ve got to respect and admire that record that he set now and the milestone he’s achieved.

“The try was scored just past me and then once he scored, I sort of turned around and I think people were unsure what to do, and then once a couple of people jumped over the fence, they all started coming.

“So I think Sammy was quick to run off the field, so a lot of us just went to the side. Staff were trying to get us off the field and get us safe, but honestly we just stood on the sideline for a bit and just watched people running everywhere.

“There was kids to 80-year-olds out there, it was pretty wild.”

Johnston is only 31 and could easily add another 50 or more tries to his tally, with the Souths great fearing he wouldn’t get here after he suffered a serious Achilles injury in 2024.

He will be linked with the new PNG franchise when they enter the competition in 2028, but his coach says he’s welcome to stay at the Bunnies if that’s where he wants to finish his career.

“Souths will always be there for him,” Bennett said.

“So if he wants to do something else then come back to Souths, that’s never going to be a problem.

“The game is blessed to have a player like him, particularly when winning this award as well because he’s as good a player I’ve ever coached with regards to his behaviour, discipline, commitment to team, all the things that matter.

“He’s a 10 out of 10. The game is blessed that he’s broken the record.”