Alex Johnston, who recently became National Rugby League’s all time leading try-scorer, has agreed to join the expansion team in Papua New Guinea in 2028 when it enters the Australasian competition.
Local media reports said Johnston confirmed the move to his teammates at the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Tuesday, and the 31-year-old reposted a story about the signing using social media along with the words “Yessssss sirrrrrrr.”
Johnston broke Ken Irvine’s 56-year-old record when he scored his 213th NRL try in last month, triggering a pitch invasion which included Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Photo: AFP
Born and raised in Sydney, Johnston has Papuan heritage through his grandmother and played 12 tests for the country after winning one cap for Australia.
Papua New Guinea is the only country in the world where rugby league, a football code formed after a split with rugby union over professionalism in the late 1890s, is the most popular sport.
The NRL’s expansion into Papua New Guinea is backed by A$600 million (US$430.4 million) in funding over 10 years from Australia’s federal government, which has concerns about China’s security ambitions in the Pacific.
The agreement allows Canberra to cut off funding in the event that Papua New Guinea signs a security or policing pact with China or another country.
The NRL said it had negotiated tax-free status for the players who relocate to the country, allowing Johnston to effectively double his salary by joining the Papua New Guinea team, to be known as the Chiefs.
New South Wales halfback Jarome Luai, another big name in the NRL, flew to Port Moresby in a private jet last weekend and watched a local game with Prime Minister James Marape.
“To be the first high-profile player to come and show interest in our team is something we deeply appreciate,” Marape told NRL.com.
“It sends a message that Papua New Guinea is ready, rugby league is strong here, and our future in the NRL is bright.”
News Limited reports on Tuesday said Luai had also agreed to join the Chiefs.
Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev was the only athlete to “beat” a world record on Sunday at the Enhanced Games, winning the men’s 50m freestyle at the divisive competition where athletes were free to take performance-enhancing substances. His time of 20.81 seconds — which is not considered official — came in the final event of the night in Las Vegas, sparing the blushes of organizers who made claims that multiple world records would be surpassed due to a sophisticated doping regime. Gkolomeev, who was wearing a synthetic “supersuit” long banned at events such as the Olympics, outpaced Australia’s Cameron McEvoy’s 20.88 set in
Fred Kerley is competing unaugmented against drug-fuelled athletes at this weekend’s Enhanced Games and still hopes to race in the 2028 Olympics, the suspended former 100m world champion said on Friday. Arguably the biggest name at the divisive event in Las Vegas, where doping is permitted, the US sprinter said he had chosen not to take any of the banned substances including testosterone and steroids that his competitors have been using. “I don’t need it. God gave me fast feet for a reason. And I’m here to showcase my talent,” Kerley said. Kerley last September became the first US competitor and first track
VICTORY ABROAD: The team took home a fistful of medals and secured spots for the autumn’s Asian Games, scheduled for September in Nagoya Taiwan’s women’s team captured the overall title at the Asian Taekwondo Championships in Mongolia on Sunday, finishing with two golds, one silver and one bronze medal. The strong showing, led by gold medalists Wang Chieh-ling and Chang Jui-en secured the full quota of available spots for Taiwan at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September. Wang opened Taiwan’s medal run by winning gold in the women’s under-46kg class on Thursday, the first day of competition. Liu Yu-yun later earned a silver in the under-49kg class. On the final day on Sunday, Chang won Taiwan’s second gold medal in the under-62kg event, and
The manager of the Yomiuri Giants, one of Japan’s most popular baseball teams, resigned yesterday after he was arrested for allegedly physically attacking his teenage daughter. Shinnosuke Abe allegedly grabbed the 18-year-old and forced her to the floor at their home in central Tokyo on Monday evening, reported national broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News, citing unnamed police sources. “Leaving like this really means I’m causing you a lot of trouble, and I feel truly sorry about that,” Abe told a hastily arranged news conference, his eyes red with tears. The former star catcher, who is among baseball-obsessed Japan’s most recognized sports figures,
RSS