'Let's move on': Wayne Bennett pays tribute to Alex Johnston's record feat in his own way

Wayne Bennett was not romanced by the nostalgia of Alex Johnston's record breaking night, asking reporters to "move on" in his post-match press conference.

The South Sydney winger, 31, crossed for his 213th try of his NRL career in Friday's 26-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.

Bennett was in the midst of his playing career when Ken Irvine set the record in 1973.

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Yet the weight of the defeat appeared to weigh on Bennett and he did not want to stray too far from the end result.

The media wanted to delve deeper into the emotions of the coach and his view from the stands, but Bennett wanted to keep things short.

"I have said a fair bit about it," Bennett replied when asked about the record first up.

"And I hate repeating myself. Let's move on."

That did noy quell the interest of reporters, who questioned his response.

"Well, I was at a press conference yesterday and we got asked a thousand questions about him which I answered," Bennett added.

"We all know how special it is, we all know how special he is."

Bennett had called for fans to be banned from entering the field of play if Johnston broke the record against the Roosters and labelled the scenes "pretty disruptive" when the game stopped for around 15 minutes as fans returned to their seats.

"We're out there trying to win a game of football. We're all out there trying our hearts out and all of a sudden it stops and takes all the momentum.

"It had to happen. It was how it happened after that we had no control over but the point is that I've coached nearly a thousand games and that hasn't happened before... but it's a pretty special time so."

Speaking earlier in the week, Bennett drew comparisons between Irvine and Johnston, words he could not find after the defeat to their local rivals.

"If you look at Ken Irvine, he's pretty similar to him," he said.

"They're not big guys. They just get there with skill and guile and great anticipation and a feel for the game.

"Some of the tries that Alex has scored, if you put other wingers in that position, they wouldn't score those tries because they just don't have the feel that he has to come onto the ball… and then get himself into the corner."

Among the river of fans that drew Bennett's ire, was Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The leader of the country said if he's fined $5500 for invading the field 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, 'South Sydney 'til I die', as the slogan went," Albanese told Nine.

"And 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.

"It's incredible and he's a La Perouse local.

"He's a proud Indigenous man, he's an author, he's written kids' books.

"He's just a great Australian."

It's unlikely Mr Albanese will cop a fine or a two-year ban for entering the field, but his actions did attract criticism online from former AFL player Dane Swan.

"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," he wrote on X.

Newcastle great Andrew Johns said having the Prime Minister at the event added more weight to it.

"It's great that he's here and, you know, it's not virtue signalling, he loves rugby league and he loves South Sydney," Johns said on Nine."

"It just adds to the night."

Roosters coach Trent Robinson said if he had his way Johnston would not have broken the record on their home turf but tipped his hat to the "legendary" accomplishment.

"I think Wayne and I were talking after the game, he's seen a lot more milestones than I have," he said

"To see a milestone like that in our game is legendary. To see someone break the try-scoring record and to be a person like AJ is (great).

"I've met him a few different times and how humble he is and how beautiful he is at his craft.

"The man knows how to score tries and his speed and his balance and all of that, it's just incredible for him to achieve that.

"In the end, we didn't want to be a part of it, but to be honest, it was really great to see him achieve that tonight."