Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been labelled 'embarrassing' and accused of seeking the spotlight after he joined a pitch invasion to celebrate a historic rugby league moment. The incident occurred at Allianz Stadium on Friday night, where South Sydney Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston broke Ken Irvine's 57-year-old record for most tries in the game's history.
Record-Breaking Night Sparks On-Field Chaos
Anthony Albanese, a well-known die-hard South Sydney Rabbitohs supporter, was in the stands hoping to witness Alex Johnston make history. The 31-year-old winger needed two tries against bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters to surpass Ken Irvine's longstanding record of 212 tries. Johnston scored his first try in the 31st minute, then crossed again shortly after half-time when teammate Latrell Mitchell put him into clear space, securing try number 213 and rewriting the record books.
Despite pre-game warnings from the NRL and Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett about pitch invasions, the sold-out crowd could not contain their excitement. When a handful of fans broke through barriers, thousands followed, creating scenes reminiscent of famous AFL celebrations like Lance Franklin's 1,000th goal at the SCG. Fans defied potential fines and bans to rush onto the field in celebration.
Prime Minister Joins the Fray
As the pitch invasion unfolded, Anthony Albanese was seen striding onto the field, flanked by his security team. The 63-year-old Prime Minister walked among the celebrating fans as ground staff worked to clear the area and restart the game. After the fans slowly dispersed, Albanese was escorted to the tunnel, but not before drawing significant criticism for his actions.
Many Australians quickly accused the Prime Minister of trying to steal the spotlight from Johnston's achievement. One fan wrote online, '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.' Another added, 'Considering Albo can be identified, I assume he will be fined $5,500 and banned from all major venues for a year.'
Cross-Code Criticism and Defence
The criticism extended beyond rugby league circles, with AFL figures also weighing in. Collingwood great Dane Swan posted on social media platform 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.'
However, other fans defended Albanese, noting his lifelong support for the Rabbitohs. One person wrote, 'How dare a bloke celebrate an achievement by a player for the team he supports.' Another added, 'One thing you can't knock him for is that he's been a genuine Rabbitohs fan his whole life.' Albanese has regularly promoted the team throughout his political career and previously served on the South Sydney board.
Albanese's Justification and Post-Match Presentation
When asked after the game if he expected to be fined for joining the on-field chaos, Anthony Albanese told Nine Network, 'It was worth it to be part of history.' He elaborated, 'I was on the Souths board when we got kicked out of the comp and 100,000 people marched through the streets of Sydney. 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, Alex Johnston changed into a special jersey with a gold number 2 on the back for the remainder of the match, which South Sydney eventually lost to the Roosters. Following the game, Albanese returned to the field to present Johnston with a commemorative ball for his historic achievement, a moment that contrasted with the earlier controversy.
Praise for Johnston's Achievement
While outrage focused on Albanese, Alex Johnston's record-breaking feat received widespread praise from fans and former players. Premiership-winning halfback Cooper Cronk called it the 'greatest moment in our game's history for a long period of time.' He added, 'The scenes are unbelievable. This will be replayed for years and years. Congratulations to Alex Johnston.' Johnston was mobbed by fans during the pitch invasion, celebrating an achievement that has cemented his place in rugby league history.
