Rugby League Divided Over Potential Fan Invasion for Johnston’s Record-Breaking Feat
The Australian rugby league community is currently abuzz with a debate that pits tradition against spectacle: should fans be permitted to flood the field at Allianz Stadium if South Sydney winger Alex Johnston crosses the try line to break the NRL’s all-time scoring record on Friday night?
Johnston stands on the precipice of history. He needs just one try to equal the legendary Ken Irvine’s long-standing record of 212 tries. Two more would see him stand alone as the greatest try-scorer Australian rugby league has ever witnessed. Irvine’s remarkable tally has remained untouched since 1973, meaning Johnston’s potential achievement would be a monumental, 53-year first for the sport Down Under.
While many are eager to witness and celebrate this historic moment with an outpouring of fan enthusiasm, reminiscent of scenes witnessed in the Australian Football League (AFL), a significant portion of the rugby league fraternity is firmly opposed to the idea.
Coaches and Administrators Express Reservations
South Sydney’s veteran coach, Wayne Bennett, was among the first to voice his scepticism regarding the notion of fans entering the playing arena. “Nope. It’s not our game,” the supercoach stated emphatically when questioned about the possibility following his team’s Round 1 victory over the Dolphins.
Bennett elaborated on his stance, saying, “I don’t see why it should happen. There’s no comprehension why it should happen. We play for 80 minutes, you stay off the field, regardless, and I believe in that.” His sentiments echo the official position of both the NRL and Venues NSW. Authorities have made it clear that any fan who breaches the field of play on Friday night faces significant repercussions, including fines of up to $5,500 and stadium bans.
Legends Divided on the Spectacle
The debate extends beyond coaching staff, with former players and esteemed figures in the game weighing in. Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns, while acknowledging the significance of Johnston’s impending record, expressed a preference for a more controlled celebration.
“I hope they don’t run on the field,” Johns commented on Nine’s Freddy and the Eighth. “You know what would be nice? If his partner and kids went on and congratulated him, that would be nice. But not everyone. NRL and AFL fans are a little bit different.”
Broncos great Sam Thaiday offered a contrasting perspective, leaning towards embracing the fan’s passion. “Surely they can’t ban everyone, can they? Can they give everyone a fine?” Thaiday mused on Today. “Some of the greatest scenes I’ve seen in sporting history… I think back to Buddy Franklin kicking the goal at the SCG, the fans storming the field. It’s iconic. Something? Anything? (ARLC chairman) Peter V’landys, look the other way.”
The AFL’s History of Fan Involvement
The AFL has a well-established precedent for fans flooding the field to celebrate significant player milestones, most notably when a player kicks their 100th goal in a season or their 1000th career goal. While the AFL does not officially sanction these invasions, their approach has been to manage the situation when it inevitably occurs, acknowledging the difficulty in preventing thousands of passionate fans from entering the playing surface.
A prominent recent example occurred in 2022 when Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin achieved his 1000th career goal at the Sydney Cricket Ground, a venue managed by the same entity, Venues NSW, that oversees Allianz Stadium. The iconic images of thousands of AFL fans converging on the SCG to celebrate Franklin’s milestone were widely shared and are expected to be used for promotional purposes for years to come.
NRL legend Brad Fittler believes the rugby league should not miss a similar opportunity to create a lasting memory. “You don’t think it deserves a bigger moment?” Fittler posed to Johns on Freddy and the Eighth. “Think about when Buddy did it at the SCG… Alex Johnston is going to be our No.1, our best. I want something, I want something more than someone handing him a footy at the end of the game and shaking his hand.”
AFL Perspective: Thrill and Caution
AFL legend Matthew Lloyd has personal experience of these fan celebrations, having had fans rush the field on two occasions when he reached the 100-goal mark in the 2000 and 2001 seasons. “While you wouldn’t want to fall over because it is quite dangerous and claustrophobic with 20, 30, 40,000 people around you, it is an amazing thrill to be a part of,” Lloyd shared on Today.
Lloyd acknowledged the potential dangers. “I was able to be part of it twice in the AFL, where if you kick 100 goals (in a season) fans get to run out on the ground,” he said. “But I understand it only takes one idiot to do something and it could be a life changing moment for people… but I do love theatre where fans can run onto the ground.”
Concerns Over Rivalry and Safety
Critics of a fan invasion point to the inherent risks, particularly given the intense rivalry between the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, two of the NRL’s most fiercely contested teams. The potential for altercations between rival fans, or even between fans and players, is a valid concern.
However, the AFL’s experience with Buddy Franklin’s milestone suggests that mass celebrations can be managed. In 2022, the AFL and the Sydney Swans implemented plans to ensure the safety of players and officials. The field was cleared, and players remained in the dressing rooms for an extended period while fans were safely ushered back into the stands.
A Moment for the Ages?
Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham highlighted a practical, albeit humorous, concern regarding a full-scale fan invasion: “Personally, if everyone storms the field it means I’ll have to do two warm-ups which I wouldn’t be too happy about… I hope when the moment comes it is celebrated in the right way and we can make it a special moment for AJ.”
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Alex Johnston is almost certain to break the record. The height of the mark he sets may stand for many years to come. This presents the NRL and the Rabbitohs with a unique opportunity to create an iconic moment, a powerful promotional asset that can be leveraged for years. To let this moment pass without embracing its potential for spectacle would be a missed opportunity, a clear advantage ceded to the AFL in the ongoing battle for sporting attention.
