Johnston Considers PNG Alliance

South Sydney fullback Alex Johnston says he would consider representing Papua New Guinea, following the lead of his Indigenous All Stars teammate Andrew Fifita by honouring his Pacifika heritage.

Picture Above: South Sydney Rabbitohs star Alex Johnston talks about a possible change in alliance to PNG following the NRL Pacifika camp. (Source: NRL)

Johnston was one of the many NRL players who attended the NRL’s Cultural Leadership Camps at Sydney’s North Head Quarantine Station.

Fifita, who will play for the Indigenous All Stars in Friday night’s match against New Zealand Maori, pledged his allegiance too Tonga at Test level, and joined the sessions with other players of Pacific Island heritage as he has attended previous Indigenous player camps.

Johnston has revealed his desire to learn more about his PNG culture and revealed how he had almost played for the Kumuls in the 2017 World Cup.

“I was going to play for them (Kumuls) but I tore my hammy. That was unlucky because it would have been pretty cool to represent that side of my family.” said Johnston.

Johnston went on to talk about his heritage, stating “My nan was originally from Papua New Guinea but she has a Torres Strait Islands background too. She met my grandfather in PNG and they moved to Brisbane.”

47% of Telstra Premiership players have Pacific Islands heritage, whilst 12% are indigenous. Due to the heritage of the players, the NRL has been running cultural leadership camps for several years, but this was the first time both groups have been in the same place.

This camp was also the first time women’s’ players have been invited, with players such as St George Illiwarra halfback Raecene McGregor, Sydney Roosters second-rower Simaima Taufa and Warriors fullback Apii Nicholls, prop Annetta Nuuausala and coach Luisa Avaiki all joining the Pacifika camp.

The players in attendance listened to speakers such as NRL senior manager of international strategy and awards Frank Puletua and Aboriginal activist Paul Coe, as well as discussing issues which affected their communities.

Players also took part in cultural workshops, which included learning traditional skills such as spear throwing and fire starting.

“I’ve been to a few of these and they are always good,” Johnston said. “You do activities like making the rope and learning to throw the spears so that’s pretty cool.”

With Greg Inglis having knee surgery and Ben Barba being sacked by North Queensland, Johnston looks likely to play fullback for the Indigenous All Stars.