Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Brian Stuart Johnston | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | [1] Dunedoo, Australia | 13 November 1958 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 83 kg (13 st 1 lb) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Centre, Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: RLP and Yesterday's Hero |
Brian Stuart Johnston (born 13 November 1958 in Dunedoo, New South Wales) is an Australian former rugby league footballer and administrator. He played with the St George Dragons and represented for the Australian national rugby league team on one occasion. Johnston's position of choice was centre but his speed also saw him play on the wing, especially in representative teams.
An athletic speedster who played Colts for Eastern Suburbs RUFC while studying at the Institute of Technology in Sydney, 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 three games of the 1987 State of Origin series plus the 4th 'exhibition' game played in Los Angeles. He was also selected for one game in the 1984, 1985 and 1986 Origin series. After missing the 1988 series, Johnston was recalled for Game 3 of the 1989 State of Origin series in what would be his final representative appearance.
Injury and form lapses caused Johnston to miss a place in St. George's 1985 Grand Final side which went down 6–7 to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, [2] although he did play in the reserve grade grand final win against Canberra. [3] Johnston was considered unlucky not to tour with the 1986 Kangaroos.
Brian Johnston played in his only test for Australia in 1987, coming off the reserves bench in Australia's shock 6–13 loss to New Zealand at Lang Park in Brisbane.
Johnston assumed the St George captaincy in 1989 but retired at the beginning of the 1990 season because of injury.
He was awarded Life Membership of the St. George Dragons club in 1990. [4]
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 Gower for misbehaviour in the week before the Test. He resigned in 1999 because of ill health.
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Rod Wishart is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played the 1980s and 1990s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative goal-kicking winger, he played club football with the Illawarra Steelers and the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League.
William John Smith is an Australian former rugby league footballer. He was the leading halfback in Australian rugby league during the late 1960s, and a keystone of the latter part of the St. George Dragons' eleven consecutive premiership victories between 1956 and 1966. He represented Australia in eighteen Tests and eight World Cup games between 1964 and 1970. He captained Australia in a World Cup game against Great Britain in 1970.
Graeme Wynn is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the St. George Dragons and the Western Suburbs Magpies in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership. His position of choice was at second-row forward, where his height and strong build made him among the most powerful runners in the game during the 1980s.
Steve Gearin is an Australian former rugby league footballer who represented Canterbury, St George and Manly in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) during the 1970s and 1980s. A key member of the Bulldogs during the 'entertainers' era, one of his finest moments was kicking six conversions from six attempts in Canterbury's 1980 Grand Final victory. He was the top point scorer in the NSWRL in 1980 and 1984.
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Brad Mackay is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. A versatile lock for the St George Dragons, Illawarra Steelers, Western Reds and the joint-venture of St. George Illawarra Dragons, he also represented New South Wales in the State of Origin and Australia.
Brett Morris is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played on the wing and as a fullback for the St George Illawarra Dragons, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australia at international level.
Chris Johns is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played in the centres, achieving representative honors for Australia and New South Wales. His club football career was spent with the St. George Dragons and Brisbane Broncos, as well as two spells in England, first with Castleford in 1986-87 and then Barrow in 1989–90. After retiring from the playing field, Johns worked in the administration of the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm clubs.
Steve 'Slippery' Morris is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. A state and national representative, his club career was played with the St. George Dragons and the Eastern Suburbs Roosters.
Geoff Gerard is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. An Australia international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football with Sydney clubs Parramatta, Manly Warringah and Penrith, and also spent time with English clubs Wakefield Trinity and Hull FC. From the time of his retirement in early 1989 to mid-1994 he held the record for the most career New South Wales Rugby League premiership first-grade games until overtaken by Terry Lamb. He holds the distinction of playing in the most first-grade grand finals (four) without ever winning one.
Wayne Bartrim, is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He was selected to represent Australia and Queensland during his career, which he spent playing for the Gold Coast Seagulls, St. George Dragons and the St. George Illawarra Dragons in Australia and the Castleford Tigers in England. Bartrim primarily played his club career as a lock, but played his representative career as a hooker.
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Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, St George/Illawarra edition, Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson