South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett was unimpressed with fans invading the field. (AAP: Dave Hunt)
In short:
South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett seemed to have had enough of answering questions about Alex Johnston's NRL try-scoring record, during Friday's post-match press conference.
Bennett had called for fans not to rush the field when Johnston scored his 213th NRL try, but those pleas were ignored on Friday.
Souths would ultimately lose to the Sydney Roosters 26-18 at the Sydney Football Stadium.
A grumpy Wayne Bennett has told reporters he had already answered enough questions about Alex Johnston's try-scoring record and described fans rushing the field in celebration as "pretty disruptive".
South Sydney winger Johnston entered rarefied air by crossing for the 213th try of his NRL career in Friday's 26-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The 31-year-old passed the mark of 212 that Ken Irvine set in 1973 — so long ago that 76-year-old Bennett was in the midst of his own playing career at the time.
Bennett had this week discouraged fans from breaching the field of play should Johnston score the required two tries and enter the history books against the Roosters.
So he was none too pleased at the jubilant scenes that unfolded early in the second half when the game stopped for about 15 minutes as fans returned to their seats.
"Pretty disruptive," Bennett said after the round two clash.
"We're out there trying to win a game of football. We're all out there trying our hearts out and all of a sudden it stops and takes all the momentum."
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The master coach was in no mood for reflection to begin his post-match press conference, either.
"I've said a fair bit about it and I hate repeating myself, so let's move on," Bennett said.
"I was at a press conference yesterday and I got asked a thousand questions about it, which I answered. We all know how special it is and we all know how special he is."
But the seven-time premiership-winning coach was able to concede that, since first coaching in the premiership during the 1987 season, nothing was quite like Johnston's milestone moment.
"I've coached nearly 1,000 games and that hasn't happened. It's a pretty special time," he said.
Trent Robinson, coach of Souths' most bitter rivals the Roosters, was more willing to offer praise.
"To see a milestone like that in our game is legendary — to see someone break the try-scoring record," he said.
"We didn't want to be a part of it, but to be honest, it was really great to see him achieve that tonight."
AAP
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