Johnston aims high

HE has scored 106 tries in seven NRL seasons and if South Sydney winger Alex Johnston can replicate that in the next seven he will become the greatest try scorer in rugby league’s 113-year history.

That record has been held for nearly 50 years by Ken Irvine, who retired in 1973 after a 212-try career with North Sydney and Manly.

“There is the record here at South Sydney, Nathan Merritt,” Johnston said. “I think that is the first target for me and if I knocked that off, then maybe in the future we’ll look at Ken Irvine.”

GOLD Coast coach David Lake has declared “footy credibility” is at stake as the Suns prepare to take on fellow AFLW battlers West Coast in WA on Sunday.

The Suns remained in the west this week following a 55-6 loss to Fremantle in Round 4, consigning the team to an 0-4 start and putting pressure on the young group to find a first win for the season.

But the Eagles are also winless and thus present the perfect opportunity for the Suns to find a win, Lake said.

“The Eagles and ourselves have both fallen into the same opportunity – our footy credibility, we’re playing for that and they’re playing for that as well, so we’re both turning up with the same chance to get off that bottom end of the ladder and grab four points,” he said.

“Our girls have certainly recognised the opportunity, but I’m certain the Eagles have recognised the same opportunity.”

The Suns have struggled to recapture the form they showed at home in Round 1 against the Demons when, aside from a second-quarter lapse, they took it up to one of the competition’s top sides.

Lake said his group again showed its potential against Fremantle last weekend, trailing by just five points at the main break before falling away.

“If you can play half a game like you played against Fremantle and put yourself in that competitive position (then) if you work hard for the whole time, we can win a game of footy,” he said.

First bounce at Mineral Resources Park is 4.10pm AEST.