SOUTH Sydney Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston is the 2026 NRL Ken Irvin Medal recipient following his campaign as a top try scorer in the National Rugby League season.

The Papua New Guinean International shares the win with Penrith Panthers Thomas Jenkins with 30-NRL tries apiece recorded in the 2026 season.

Upon receiving this medal at the 2026 Dally M awards reception, Johnston said to get a joint win with Jenkins is special as he has had a great season.

“Jenkins has had a great season, and to share this win is pretty special. It sort of worked out for me, I kept marking each game getting one or two tries and was fortunate to catch up with him.”

The Kumul #294 said the highlight of his career this season was breaking Ken Irvin’s All-Time NRL Try Scorer’s record and on home soil.

“It was a pretty special moment for myself, I think there were some other remarkable tries this year but that night in general, it’s just amazing… When I look back on it, it was the best 20 seconds of my life before it went a-bit sideways, and I couldn’t breathe there.”

“Seeing the crowd run into the field to celebrate that try was one of the best moments.”

Johnston who etched his name as NRL’s All Time Try Scorer has scored 240 tries to date and is looking forward to add in the next few seasons moving forward.

Now prepared to lead his New Castle Knights to a fairytale finish in the NRL Grandfinal, former PNG Kumuls Head Coach Justin Holbrooke was finalist of the Dally M Coach of the year among Dolphins coach Kristen Woolf while New Zealand Warriors Andrew Webster won the award marking his second win after three years.

Holbrook despite a finalist in the Dally M Awards event has a bigger task ahead taking Knights into the 2026 NRL Grandfinal against Trent Robinson’s coached Sydney Roosters this Sunday at the Accor Stadium, Sydney.