‘Stay off the field’: Bennett tells fans before record
Joel Gould |
Wayne Bennett has urged fans to respect the game and stay off the field of play when South Sydney winger Alex Johnston breaks the all-time try scoring record.
Johnston took his career tally to 211 with his one try in the 40-30 win over the Dolphins on Sunday, putting him just one behind Ken Irvine’s all-time mark.
The Rabbitohs play arch-rivals Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Friday night, where the record could well fall.
Souths as a club have previously encouraged fans to celebrate Johnston’s achievement in the stands and not run onto the field, reminding them of fines of up to $5500 and stadium bans.
There is a view in some sections of the media and fandom that supporters should be allowed to mingle on the field when Johnston reaches the mark, as AFL supporters did when Sydney’s Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin landed his 1000th goal at the SCG in 2022
Bennett was asked if he was hoping fans would run onto the field when Johnston notches 213 tries.
“No I don’t,” Bennett fired.
“It’s not our game. I don’t accept that it will probably happen and I don’t accept that it should happen.
“It is respect for the game. That is the important thing here. We play for 80 minutes and you stay off the field regardless. I believe in that.”
Bennett said he had no issue with a celebration at the end of the game but not during it.
“How many are we going to allow on the field? Where is that going to stop? And how long before the game gets started again?
“Let’s not encourage it. Let’s make sure it doesn’t happen and be respectful to the game, him and all the guys that play the game.”
The Rabbitohs received a strong showing on Sunday from club debutant David Fifita, who was dominant against the Dolphins and set up the try for Johnston.
Bennett said he was “happy” with Fifita but was perplexed as to why the referee chose to give him an early shower late in the match.
“I’m not sure what he got the sin-bin for but the rest of his game was good,” Bennett said.
Bennett said it was “a waste of time” taking up the matter with officials.
The master coach said he was delighted Dolphins prop Thomas Flegler got through the game in his first NRL match since April 2024, after recovering from shoulder nerve surgery.
“Tom’s a wonderful person and had a couple of tough years but he is back and still pretty formidable. He is is still stirring guys up.”
AAP