NRL fans blast Anthony Albanese over ’embarrassing’ move after Rabbitohs player Alex Johnston made history
Anthony Albanese has been slammed as ’embarrassing’ after running onto the pitch to celebrate Rabbitohs player Alex Johnston’s record-breaking try.
It’s well known the Prime Minister is a die-hard South Sydney Rabbitohs fan and he was in the stands at Allianz Stadium on Friday hoping to see Johnston become the game’s all-time leading try scorer.
The Souths winger, 31, had to cross for two tries against bitter rivals the Roosters to break Ken Irvine’s 57-year-old record of 212 tries.
He scored in the 31st minute and when Latrell Mitchell put him into clear air to score shortly after half-time, Johnston rewrote the record books for try No. 213.
Despite pre-game warnings from the NRL and Souths coach Wayne Bennett himself, the sold-out crowd couldn’t help themselves and rushed the field.
As soon as a handful of fans broke through the barriers, thousands followed, echoing famous AFL moments like Lance Franklin’s 1,000th goal celebrations at the SCG.
As the fans defied possible fines and bans for running on, Albanese was seen striding onto the field flanked by his beefy security team.
As the fans slowly dispersed, the 63-year-old was escorted to the tunnel as ground staff worked to get the game started again.
Anthony Albanese was slammed for running onto the field after Alex Johnston scored a record-breaking try at Allianz Stadium on Friday night
The Prime Minister caught up with Johnston after his record-breaking night
Fans defied the threat of fines and bans to rush the field and celebrate the achievement
Aussies were quick to accuse the PM of trying to take the spotlight from Johnston.
‘Just how low can the Australian PM Albanese go? Alex Johnston breaks the all-time try scoring record in the NRL and our clown PM walks onto the field waving his scarf – not to congratulate Alex but to say look at me,’ one fan wrote.
‘Considering Albo can be identified, I assume he will be fined $5,500 and banned from all major venues for a year,’ another said.
The critics even came from AFL types south of the border.
Collingwood great Dane Swan wrote on X: ‘If our Prime Minister couldn’t get any cornier now he is on the field after Johnston scored the record-breaking try. He’s laugh-out-loud embarrassing. Scram.’
But other fans defended Albanese, noting he is a die-hard Souths fan who has regularly spruiked the team throughout his political career.
‘How dare a bloke celebrate an achievement by a player for the team he supports,’ one person wrote on X.
‘One thing you can’t knock him for is that he’s been a genuine Rabbitohs fan his whole life,’ another said.
Johnston was mobbed by fans on Friday night for breaking Ken Irvine’s long-standing record
Albanese presents Johnston with the ball he used to score the try after the game
Asked after the game if he would be fined for joining the on-field chaos, Albanese told Nine: ‘It was worth it to be part of history’.
‘I was on the Souths board when we got kicked out of the comp and 100,000 people marched through the streets of Sydney,’ Albanese said.
‘A great moment for Alex Johnston. He’s been an extraordinary player but he’s also a great man, he’s so humble, and it was a great moment for rugby league and a great moment for South Sydney.’
After breaking the record, Johnston changed into a special jersey with a gold No. 2 on the back as he ran out for the remainder of the match.
Souths eventually lost the match to the Roosters but Albanese came back onto the field to present Johnston with a commemorative ball for his historic achievement.
While outrage came in thick and fast for Albanese, Johnston’s achievement was praised by fans and ex-players.
Premiership-winning halfback Cooper Cronk called it the ‘greatest moment in our game’s history for a long period of time’.
‘The scenes are unbelievable. This will be replayed for years and years. Congratulations to Alex Johnston,’ Cronk said.
