South winger Alex Johnston held the post-match press conference after scoring a hat-trick to overtake Nathan Merritt as the Rabbitohs’ top scorer.
Johnston scored three in the 44-18 victory over the Tigers, but was more excited to be in his first press conference after the game in a hilarious response to his first question.
“I think it’s special to be part of the post-match press conference partner,” Johnston said.
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South Sydney Press Conference | 08:54
“I mean, that’s amazing. It’s great.
“No, I told the fans before that I’m still pinching myself. I don’t want to play in any other color and dialing 147 in red and green means a lot to me and my family.
“I’m speechless right now.”
It was revealed that Johnston personally thanked Souths fans after the game after they started a petition to keep him at the club when they almost let him go a couple of years ago.
“Obviously we all know what happened a few years ago, I was hardly here,” Johnston said.
“There was a request and a lot of fans signed up and I like to think that the best dogs looked at it and saw that maybe we should keep that guy.
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Alex Johnston had the points press. Source: FOX SPORTS
“I’m very grateful to the fans for doing this and it all worked out as you can see. I’m so happy.
“I think I have a lot more attempts to go touch wood to get them back.”
Johnston revealed that he admired the man he met Merritt, who was at the club when he started in 2014.
“Sure when I got to the club he was by my side in the locker room,” Johnston said when asked if he was looking at Merritt.
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Alex Johnston greets the Rabbitoh faithful. Source: Getty Images
“He, Greg Inglis and I were among them. I thought that was crazy.
“Two natives and that’s another thing. What a night to do with that t-shirt too.
“I don’t think I’ll take it off. I’ll keep this shirt on for at least a week.
“I admired Merritt. I admired GI and breaking her record tonight is very special.”
However, Johnston would not have dared if he had plans to chase Ken Irvine’s record of 212 first-degree attempts.
“Yeah, no, we’re not kidding,” Johnston said.
“Just one game at a time, keep marking them and whatever happens.
“I’m very happy to be sitting here right now at this press conference. Look at that.”
Alex Johnston celebrates his hat-trick and his record-breaking attempt. Source: Getty Images
The 27-year-old winger, who only took 178 games to break the record, admitted that it was a relief to leave behind the conversation about the record.
“It got a little annoying,” Johnston said.
“I just didn’t want to think about it. You did your best to keep reminding me every time I spoke to you, so thank you for that.
“But it’s good to finally get over the hump and do it and hopefully we’ll continue to play as a team like we did tonight and I’ll score more tries if we want to.”
Johnston shared a hilarious final anecdote about Campbell Graham, who passed the ball to him to break the record.
“I knew it and Campbell Graham inside me knew it too,” Johnston said.
“When he passed the ball to me for the last try, he just started screaming history! History! Record!
“I think he was more excited than me. He just shows the kind of team and teammates we have. We all care and love each other and I’m very grateful to be a part of it.”