Alex Johnston edges closer to all-time tryscoring record with 210th career score in Souths win over Dragons

Alex Johnston needs three tries in one game to break the NRL's try-scoring record before the end of the season after edging closer to the history books in South Sydney's 40-0 thrashing of St George Illawarra.

The left winger had one try in Souths' penultimate game of a forgettable year, touching down from a very suspect Tallis Duncan pass in front of 7,213 fans on Thursday night.

It was the Souths' smallest crowd at Stadium Australia since Round 1, 2020 — not including games that had COVID-19 restrictions.

Johnston's 210th career try came in the final minutes before half-time and leaves the veteran only two four-pointers shy of equalling Ken Irvine's mark that has stood since 1973.

With Souths on the bye next week, the stage is set for Johnston to take a shot at history against bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters in the last round of the regular season.

The win finished as Souths' biggest of the year, and also their biggest over the Dragons either as a joint venture or as their predecessor club, St George.

Johnston could've come even closer to rarefied air amid the carnage,

The winger tore past Hayden Buchanan and Corey Allan on a line break down the left side in the first half but passed inside to Jye Gray for the Rabbitohs' second try.

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After the break, Duncan had Johnston unmarked on his left but did not need the veteran as he crashed past Buchanan for a four-score lead.

From there, it was Johnston's teammates inflicting the pain, with right winger Tyrone Munro putting the icing on the cake by stepping around Clint Gutherson en route to an 85-metre try in the final minutes.

The victory guarantees Souths cannot finish last on the ladder, after last week's win had all but confirmed Wayne Bennett would avoid the first wooden spoon of his premiership career.

The Dragons had already been relying on a miracle to play finals but are now mathematically out of contention, left to rue errors and an inability to create opportunities against Souths.

AAP

Key Events Fulltime: Rabbitohs 40 def Dragons 0 36 minutes ago 76' Munro finishes with a superb solo try 41 minutes ago 73' Rabbitohs rookie goes over 47 minutes ago Show all key events Signing off N By Nick Campton That'll do me, thanks so much for stopping by tonight and be sure to check in tomorrow and for every game until the end of the NRL season. It's been emotional. Loading Souths press conference: Bennett's praise for youth brigade N By Nick Campton Wayne Bennett has some kind words for some of the rookies who led them to victory tonight. "They stayed at it. They kept doing their jobs and turning up and competing really well," Bennett said. "We've got a lot of young boys in that team who haven't played a lot of NRL and we had to stay with them because of the injuries we had. "To see what they were when they came up a few months ago and see where they are now, it gives them confidence." Bennett has some fun with the pass that led to the Johnston try. "I didn't think the referee was game to take it off," Bennett said. "But yeah, it was marginal." Cody Walker says he can't imagine what Johnston must be going through. "Just to be a part of it, it's so special," Walker said. "I think he can get it (in the next game). When we play the Roosters regardless of where we are on the ladder it's a tough game, we're looking forward to it." Dragons press conference: No excuses for Flanagan N By Nick Campton Dragons coach Shane Flanagan hasn't reached for the easy options in his presser - he's not happy with what his team has thrown up tonight. "Souths had a shorter turnaround than us, they've got injuries so we're not tossing up any excuses," Flanagan said. "If I start tossing up excuses, then I become one of the weak ones. "The opposition didn't give us a chance to breathe. They were outstanding with the football. We were the opposite." Damien Cook said it shouldn't be hard for the team to lift and doesn't cop the excuse of the side being up for a few weeks. Flanagan says de Belin should be back next week and Jaydn Su'A is an outside chance. Also praises Keaon Koloamatangi's efforts in the middle of the field. Fulltime: Rabbitohs 40 def Dragons 0 N By Nick Campton A comprehensive display and a big win for the Rabbitohs, who were in control all the way. Dire stuff from St George Illawarra - the injuries they've suffered in recent weeks seemed to catch up with them. 76' Munro finishes with a superb solo try N By Nick Campton Munro breaks through on his own 20 and he 's away, he's got support as he comes to Gutherson but instead he puts on an in away, leaves the Dragons veteran in his wake and swan dives over for the try. Brilliant stuff from the young winger and once Ward converts it's 40-0 Souths. 73' Rabbitohs rookie goes over N By Nick Campton Souths spread it left, play breaks down as it reaches Duncan, he tracks back across field and picks up Fletcher who hits a hole and goes through, he has support but instead he shows Gutherson a huge dummy and cruises over for the first try of his NRL career. Good stuff from the rookie. Ward converts another and it's 34-0 Souths. 67' Ward sets up another one as Souths lead grows N By Nick Campton Ward holds up a pass to put Fletcher into a gap, he draws Gutherson and Mamouzelous is in support to score under the posts. The young five-eighth has had a blinder. He converts the try and it's 28-0 Rabbitohs. 48' Walker lays on the try for Duncan N By Nick Campton Allan knocks on a bomb and Souths have a shot at more points. Saints challenge it but they won't get it. They line up the left side, Walker throws a great flat pass to Duncan and he powers over for the try. We're a long way from the end but that feels like it'll wrap things up. Saints have had some bad luck but they've also done themselves no favours. Ward's kick from out wide is good. Souths lead 22-0. 45' Rabbitohs somehow escape sin bin N By Nick Campton Liddle cuts through off the back of an offload, he has Flanagan in support, he's dragged down and Ward kills the play and he's penalised but - somehow - he's not binned. That is inexplicable, Sutton says "it's not deliberate" but fair dinkum, what a shocker. Saints stay on the attack, King-Tongia puts a grubber through on the last and Feagai gets there first but he puts it down on the touch in-goal line. Souths escape but geez they're lucky to still have 13 on the field. We're halfway home N By Nick Campton Souths kick us off, running right to left. 39' Controversial pass gives Johnston try 210 N By Nick Campton Liddle loses it on the 40 and Souths have a chance at another one before halftime. They spread it left, Walker throws a great pass to Duncan and he throws a very forward pass to Johnston but the refs say play on and it's try number 210 of his career! The ball from Duncan was very forward, but they all count once the ref blows the whistle. He's now just two tries away from equalling Irvine. Ward's kick is short and Souths lead 16-0. 35' Tough times for Saints N By Nick Campton Smith clips Feagai high as he cuts back inside and Saints will get some sorely needed field position....only for Leilua to lose the ball as he goes to play it on the first tackle after the tap. Rough. 29' Rabbitohs go in from long range N By Nick Campton Souths spread it left from deep in their own half, Johnston is away down the left, he's got Gray in support and the fullback races away to score South Sydney's second. Good footy from the Rabbitohs - Walker's come on and he helped get that shift going, an immediate impact. Ward converts from in front and it's 12-0 Rabbitohs. 26' Saints blow first chance N By Nick Campton A penalty and a set restart gives the Dragons their first chance of the evening. They spread it left, but nobody digs into the line and it's easy work for Souths to bundle Tuipulotu into touch. 23' Souths on the attack again N By Nick Campton Leilua gets pinged for an offside and Souths go on the attack again. Ward goes flat to Host on the last but he's dragged down just short and Saints hang on. 18' Host crosses for opening try N By Nick Campton Guler's offload is snapped up by Souths and they'll go on the attack with a full set. Ward goes to the line and puts in a nice grubber and Host is there first for the try! Nice stuff from the young five-eighth, he really nailed the weight. Ward's taking the kick as well from out wide and it's good! Rabbitohs lead 6-0. 13' Rabbitohs get a penalty N By Nick Campton Humphreys goes for a 40/20 but Gutherson gets across and cleans it up, a strong return puts Saints on the attack. King-Tongia puts up a bomb, Flanagan chases hard and Gray loses it but Flanagan is ruled to have taken out the fullback before the ball arrived. Injury: Jai Arrow N By Nick Campton Arrow takes a run around midfield and his knee gets twisted awkwardly. He's on the ground receiving treatment, they strap it up and he'll play on. And we're underway! N By Nick Campton Saints kick us off, running right to left. Final teams: Souths vs Saints N By Nick Campton Bit of a shuffle for the Dragons - Damien Cook moves to lock, Jacob Liddle starts at hooker, Ben Murdoch-Masila goes back to the bench and Raymond Faitala-Mariner joins him with Tyrell Sloan going back to 18th man. Souths are 1-17. Show more posts

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