Brian Johnston (rugby league)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brian Stuart Johnston (born 13 Nov 1958, Dunedoo, New South Wales) is a former Australian rugby league player and administrator. He played with the St George Dragons and represented for the Australian national rugby league team on one occasion.

An athletic speedster, Johnston signed with St George in 1980 and played for New South Wales in the State of Origin series on eight occasions between 1984-1989. He represented in the centres or at wing for the Blues in all four games of the 1987 series and in one game in each series of 1984-86, with a one match recall in 1989.

His highest representative honour came with selection as a reserve back for Australia in the one-off Test against New Zealand in 1987.

Johnston assumed the St George captaincy in 1989 but retired at the beginning of the 1990 season because of injury.

After football he became St George's Chief Executive Officer in 1996. He was named Australian Test manager for the 1999 Anzac Test. Johnston drew criticism of his handling of the sacking of Craig Young for misbehaviour in the week before the Test. He resigned in 1999 because of ill health.

Currently he is on the Club's Board of Directors.

[edit] Matches played

Team Matches Years Tries Points
St. George Dragons 173 1980 - 1989 61 233
New South Wales 8 1984 - 1989 2 8
Australia (Tests ) 1 1987 0 0

[edit] References

Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, St George/Illawarra edition, Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson