He was a pioneering Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s, and coached from the 1920s to the 1940s. He was a three-quarter for the Australian national team, and played in eight tests between 1919 and 1922, two as captain.
In 1912 he was selected in a Sydney Metropolis side. In 1913 he was in a New South Wales touring squad to New Zealand as half-back but was kept out of the major matches by the form of his peer Arthur Halloway.
He captained New South Wales in some 1918 games and then made his Australian Test debut in 1919 on Australia's tour of New Zealand. He scored a try on debut assisting Australia to a 44-21 victory. With tour captain Halloway unfit for the 3rd Test he led the side to a series victory in Auckland, in the process becoming Australia's 11th Kangaroo captain.
In 1920 he was chosen for the first Test of the domestic Ashes series. He captained the side to an 8-4 victory over England. Herb Gilbert took over as captain for the 2nd and 3rd Tests but Johnston's continued successful halves pairing with Queenslander Duncan Thompson set a platform for the talented backline featuring Harold Horder, Dick Vest and Gilbert, and Australia won the series and the Ashes for the first time on home soil.
He did not captain Australia again. He appeared for New South Wales through till 1922 and toured with the 1921-22 Kangaroos, playing in the 1st Test and in 11 tour matches.
Contributor: Tim Reynolds (48314828)
In 1912 he was selected in a Sydney Metropolis side. In 1913 he was in a New South Wales touring squad to New Zealand as half-back but was kept out of the major matches by the form of his peer Arthur Halloway.
He captained New South Wales in some 1918 games and then made his Australian Test debut in 1919 on Australia's tour of New Zealand. He scored a try on debut assisting Australia to a 44-21 victory. With tour captain Halloway unfit for the 3rd Test he led the side to a series victory in Auckland, in the process becoming Australia's 11th Kangaroo captain.
In 1920 he was chosen for the first Test of the domestic Ashes series. He captained the side to an 8-4 victory over England. Herb Gilbert took over as captain for the 2nd and 3rd Tests but Johnston's continued successful halves pairing with Queenslander Duncan Thompson set a platform for the talented backline featuring Harold Horder, Dick Vest and Gilbert, and Australia won the series and the Ashes for the first time on home soil.
He did not captain Australia again. He appeared for New South Wales through till 1922 and toured with the 1921-22 Kangaroos, playing in the 1st Test and in 11 tour matches.
Contributor: Tim Reynolds (48314828)
He was a pioneering Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s, and coached from the 1920s to the 1940s. He was a three-quarter for the Australian national team, and played in eight tests between 1919 and 1922, two as captain.
In 1912 he was selected in a Sydney Metropolis side. In 1913 he was in a New South Wales touring squad to New Zealand as half-back but was kept out of the major matches by the form of his peer Arthur Halloway.
He captained New South Wales in some 1918 games and then made his Australian Test debut in 1919 on Australia's tour of New Zealand. He scored a try on debut assisting Australia to a 44-21 victory. With tour captain Halloway unfit for the 3rd Test he led the side to a series victory in Auckland, in the process becoming Australia's 11th Kangaroo captain.
In 1920 he was chosen for the first Test of the domestic Ashes series. He captained the side to an 8-4 victory over England. Herb Gilbert took over as captain for the 2nd and 3rd Tests but Johnston's continued successful halves pairing with Queenslander Duncan Thompson set a platform for the talented backline featuring Harold Horder, Dick Vest and Gilbert, and Australia won the series and the Ashes for the first time on home soil.
He did not captain Australia again. He appeared for New South Wales through till 1922 and toured with the 1921-22 Kangaroos, playing in the 1st Test and in 11 tour matches.
Contributor: Tim Reynolds (48314828)
In 1912 he was selected in a Sydney Metropolis side. In 1913 he was in a New South Wales touring squad to New Zealand as half-back but was kept out of the major matches by the form of his peer Arthur Halloway.
He captained New South Wales in some 1918 games and then made his Australian Test debut in 1919 on Australia's tour of New Zealand. He scored a try on debut assisting Australia to a 44-21 victory. With tour captain Halloway unfit for the 3rd Test he led the side to a series victory in Auckland, in the process becoming Australia's 11th Kangaroo captain.
In 1920 he was chosen for the first Test of the domestic Ashes series. He captained the side to an 8-4 victory over England. Herb Gilbert took over as captain for the 2nd and 3rd Tests but Johnston's continued successful halves pairing with Queenslander Duncan Thompson set a platform for the talented backline featuring Harold Horder, Dick Vest and Gilbert, and Australia won the series and the Ashes for the first time on home soil.
He did not captain Australia again. He appeared for New South Wales through till 1922 and toured with the 1921-22 Kangaroos, playing in the 1st Test and in 11 tour matches.
Contributor: Tim Reynolds (48314828)
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