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NRL 2025 LIVE updates: Johnston eyes try-scoring record as Rabbitohs host Dragons
@Source: smh.com.au
NRL 2025 LIVE updates: Johnston eyes try-scoring record as Rabbitohs host Dragons
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NRL 2025 LIVE updates: Johnston eyes try-scoring record as Rabbitohs host Dragons
By Paul Zalunardo
Updated August 21, 2025 — 7.42pmfirst published at 7.27pm
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Weather update
For anyone who’s been living in a cave, it has been raining over the last few days. The only good news for the teams is that it isn’t raining right now. How long will that last? Who knows.
Sydney expecting up to 80mm rain on Thursday as wettest August in 27 years continues.Credit: WeatherZone
Your latest Lachlan Galvin news
Raiders flying in style
The Raiders have organised a charter flight for their players following Friday night’s match against Penrith and Mudgee. The club wants the players back home in Canberra so they can sleep in their own beds.
Christian Nicolussi reports here
Canberra’s Ricky Stuart and Josh Papalii will fly to and from Mudgee in a charter plane on Friday.Credit: Michael Howard
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Late changes
St George Illawarra have made a few moves on game day. Damien Cook moves from hooker to lock, Jacob Liddle moves from the bench to hooker, Ben Murdoch-Masila goes from lock to a spot on the interchange, Raymond Faitala-Mariner moves from 18th man to the interchange, and Tyrell Sloan is now the 18th man.
It’s interesting to see the Dragons choose mobility over bulk in their starting forward pack. It isn’t the usual tactic on wet nights. Let’s see how that goes.
The Rabbitohs will start 1-17.
Dragons forward Damien Cook.Credit: Getty Images
View from the ground
By Christian Nicolussi
There is next to nobody inside Accor Stadium, so let’s hope Alex Johnston does not score four tries and breaks Ken Irvine’s try-scoring record.
To be fair, the rubbish in Sydney has been rubbish – the rain has finally just stopped – and the gates did not open the to the general public until 7pm.
Both teams will not play finals, but the addition of Kaeon Koloamatangi, the weakened Dragons’ middle, the form of Souths fullback Jye Gray, and the emotional toll the Red V must be feeling after so many close contests the past month, has me leaning towards the Rabbits.
Rage … and the machines
Apologies to Zack de la Rocha and Co. for that but Andrew Johns summed it up pretty well in column today when he delved into the four coaches guiding sides into a bumper Friday night slate of matches.
With Ricky Stuart and Craig Bellamy, you’ll never need to ask them how they feel. With Cameron Ciraldo and Ivan Cleary, it can be a little more cryptic.
Who better than rugby league’s eighth Immortal to take us into this world.
Read Andrew Johns’ column here
Credit: Aresna Villanueva
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Joey and Freddie give us their winners
It’s all about AJ
Yes, Alex Johnston does need four tries tonight to break Ken Irvine’s Australian record of 212. Four tries in a match is a lot - and it probably seems like 10 right now considering the weather of the last few days - but don’t rule anything out.
With that in mind, here is a top-shelf look at how Johnston got to 209 tries. It’s taken a lot of work, and a lot of help from a couple of well-known Rabbitohs to get him to this stage.
Read Dan Walsh’s article here
Alex Johnston has scored 209 NRL tries.Credit: Mark Stehle
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Hello, sports fans.
Is this the night history will be made? Well, history is made everyday but tonight at Accor Stadium we could see something of genuine significance in the world of rugby league.
Yes, folks, Alex Johnston’s pursuit if Ken Irvine’s try-scoring record is in the picture. It’ll take something special, but it could happen. So, between now and 10pm, we will bring you all the news from both this match and a big day in sport - and rain.
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