Alex Johnston Makes History as Warriors Edge Bunnies in NRL Classic
What a Sunday it was at Accor Stadium—one of those NRL thrillers that had everything: milestones, injuries, comebacks, and big plays. The New Zealand Warriors pulled off a 36-30 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs, but that final score only tells half the story. From Alex Johnston’s historic moment to Mitchell Barnett’s worrying injury, this clash had the league buzzing.
Let’s start with the standout. Alex Johnston, the ever-reliable Souths winger, etched his name into rugby league history by scoring his 200th career try. Only one other man—Ken Irvine—has done that before. Johnston didn’t just sneak past the milestone either; he did it in style with a hat-trick. His second try took him to 199, and just minutes later, he crossed again to join Irvine in one of the most exclusive clubs in the game. At 30 years old, with plenty of footy left in him, Johnston looks primed to break Irvine’s long-standing record of 212.
Wayne Bennett, as always, was full of praise. He called Johnston “pretty special,” not just for his athletic ability but for his smart positioning and instinct around the tryline. It’s hard to argue with that. The man just knows where to be.
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But while Souths were celebrating Johnston, the Blues were sweating over Mitchell Barnett. The NSW prop went down hard in the 22nd minute after a collision with teammate Chanel Harris-Tavita. You could tell immediately it wasn’t good—he didn’t get back up. He limped off the field and never returned. Scans will confirm the damage, but with Origin II just around the corner, it’s a nervous wait for Laurie Daley and the NSW camp.
Ironically, Barnett’s possible absence could open the door for Souths’ Keaon Koloamatangi. Since being shifted to prop, he’s been enormous—literally and statistically. Against the Warriors, he chalked up 197 running metres, 39 tackles, and a rampaging try. He looks like a man ready for Origin duties.
As for the game itself, it was a rollercoaster. The Warriors started fast with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak crossing early. Souths answered quickly through Koloamatangi and a 90-metre intercept from Johnston. But every time Souths surged, the Warriors fired back harder. Tries to Rocco Berry, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Leka Halasima, and Luke Metcalf blew the game open. Metcalf even went 85 metres solo to score from dummy-half.
Still, Souths wouldn’t lie down. Johnston’s double-century try brought the crowd to life. Latrell Mitchell chimed in late with a try and a conversion to close the gap to six points. The fans were on their feet, but the Warriors held on, showing resilience right to the end.
All in all, it was a match that had it all—heart, history, and high drama. And while the Rabbitohs will rue the missed opportunity, Johnston’s 200 will be remembered far beyond the result.
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