Iconic NRL moment going to waste over stubborn stance

The rugby league world is divided on whether fans should be allowed to run onto Allianz Stadium if Alex Johnston breaks the NRL's tryscoring record on Friday night.

The South Sydney winger needs just one try to draw level with the legendary Ken Irvine on 212, and two tries to become the greatest try scorer Australian rugby league has seen.

Irvine's mark has stood since 1973 so Johnston's feat would be a 53-year first for the game Down Under.

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And while many people are keen to celebrate the moment with an AFL-style fan rush, others are staunchly against the idea.

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett was the first to question why fans should be allowed to run onto the field.

"Nope. It's not our game," the supercoach gruffly replied when asked about the possibility following their win over the Dolphins in round one.

"I don't see why it should happen. There's no comprehension why it should happen.

"We play for 80 minutes, you stay off the field, regardless, and I believe in that."

Bennett's comments were backed up by the NRL and Venues NSW, who told Wide World of Sports fans would face fines up to $5500 each and stadium bans if they chose to jump the fence on Friday night.

They aren't the only ones who don't want to see fans swarm the field if Johnston crosses for a second time against the Roosters.

Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns wants the moment to be celebrated, but not by thousands of people who have no personal connection to Johnston.

"I hope they don't run on the field," Johns said on Nine's Freddy and the Eighth.

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"You know what would be nice? If his partner and kids went on and congratulated him, that would be nice. But not everyone.

"NRL and AFL fans are a little bit different."

Broncos great Sam Thaiday agrees.

"Surely they can't ban everyone, can they? Can they give everyone a fine?" Thaiday said on Today.

"Some of the greatest scenes I've seen in sporting history... I think back to Buddy Franklin kicking the goal at the SCG, the fans storming the field. It's iconic.

"Something? Anything? (ARLC chairman) Peter V'landys, look the other way."

The AFL has a history of marking goal-kicking milestones with fans jumping the fence and storming the field.

Historically fans have done so when a player kicks their 100th goal for a season, or 1000th goal of their career.

While the league doesn't specifically condone or allow it to happen, the AFL's view is it can't stop thousands of people, so plans are put in place to manage the situation when it occurs.

The last example was in 2022 when Lance 'Buddy' Franklin booted his 1000th goal, doing so at the Sydney Cricket Ground - ironically right next door to where the Rabbitohs and Roosters will play on Friday night. It is also managed by Venues NSW.

The images of thousands of people flooding the SCG to celebrate Franklin were instantly iconic and will be used to promote the game for decades to come.

NRL legend Brad Fittler doesn't want rugby league to miss the chance at doing something similar.

"You don't think it deserves a bigger moment?" Fittler asked Johns on Freddy and the Eighth.

"Think about when Buddy did it at the SCG... Alex Johnston is going to be our No.1, our best.

"I want something, I want something more than someone handing him a footy at the end of the game and shaking his hand."

AFL legend Matthew Lloyd has experienced it himself, twice.

He cracked the 100-goal mark in both the 2000 and 2001 AFL seasons, and fans jumped the fence to celebrate the Bombers great.

"I was able to be part of it twice in the AFL, where if you kick 100 goals (in a season) fans get to run out on the ground," Lloyd told Nine's Today this week.

"While you wouldn't want to fall over because it is quite dangerous and claustrophobic with 20, 30, 40,000 people around you, it is an amazing thrill to be a part of.

"I loved it. The Buddy Franklin one was handled amazingly well.

"But I understand it only takes one idiot to do something and it could be a life changing moment for people... but I do love theatre where fans can run onto the ground."

Critics will argue there's a risk of NRL fans getting violent with one another - or with the players - if they all run onto Allianz Stadium at once. The Roosters and Rabbitohs are, after all, the most bitter rivals in the NRL.

But the tens of thousands of AFL fans managed to avoid any serious trouble when they did so in 2022, and they celebrated in good spirit.

The AFL and the Swans put plans in place leading up to the game to ensure the safety of players and officials. They were rushed off the field and spent half an hour in the dressing rooms while fans were ushered back off the turf and into the stands.

Rabbitohs star Campbell Graham only has one problem with fans rushing the field on Friday.

"It is such a huge moment for our game, I feel like everyone should be involved. I don't know what that looks like," Graham said on Freddy and the Eighth.

"Personally, if everyone storms the field it means I'll have to do two warm-ups which I wouldn't be too happy about... I hope when the moment comes it is celebrated in the right way and we can make it a special moment for AJ."

Johnston will inevitably break the record - barring some horrendous twist of fate - and whatever high water mark he sets may not be run down for years.

The NRL and Rabbitohs must recognise the occasion for what it is - a plum opportunity to create its own iconic moment and an easy promotional clip they can use for years to come.

If they let the moment pass without taking advantage, mark it down as a free kick for the AFL.