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Brian Johnson

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Brian James Johnson
Nickname(s)
Johnno
Born
Tuesday, 26th June, 1956
Died
Monday, 11th January, 2016 (Aged 59 years and 199 days)
Place Of Birth
Dapto, New South Wales, Australia

Competitions Won

NSWRFL Premiership (NRL)
1979
Premiership Trophy
1985/86
Charity Shield - AUS
1985

Honours & Awards

Dally M Fullback Of The Year
1980

Biography

Athletic, snowy-haired fullback (originally from Dapto) played for St George in the 1979 grand final victory over C’bury. An exciting attacking player, and a frequent try-scorer from fullback, Johnson had a long career with the Dragons before joining Easts in the mid-1980s. He played for Warrington in 1985 and, returning to England after his Sydney career finished, took over as coach of Warrington in 1990.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Representative Career - International Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Tour MatchesIllawarra FirstsILL-1-1------------1--100.00%List
Representative Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Tour MatchesWarrington WolvesWTN-1-1-------------1-0.00%List
NSW City vs Country Firsts -1-1-------------1-0.00%List
NSW City vs Country -1-1-------------1-0.00%List
Club Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) 115631593817--55---182-3-9261657.86%List
NRL Finals -911021--3---10---64-60.00%List
Preseason Cup -5162---2---6---32150.00%List
Midweek Cup -20-2010---10---30---119-55.00%List
Club Career - UK Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
English Championship -71-71-33--33---132---4720466.20%List
Premiership Trophy 1336-4--4---16---42-66.67%List
Challenge Cup -6-6-1--1---4---33-50.00%List
Regal Trophy -12-12-7--7---28---93-75.00%List
Lancashire Cup -7-7-3--3---12---43-57.14%List
UK Top Division -71-71-33--33---132---4720466.20%List
Overall StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
First Class 28272895065--115---410-3-1741041160.21%List

Australia - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Illawarra Firsts1977-78 7-75---5---15---52-71.43%List
NSW Country Firsts1978 1-1-------------1-0.00%List

NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
St GeorgeSt George19791979 NSWRFL 24-2412---12---36---195-79.17%List
St GeorgeSt George19801980 NSWRFL 24-2410---10---30---148258.33%List
St GeorgeSt George19811981 NSWRFL 22-224---4---12---813136.36%List
St GeorgeSt George19821982 NSWRFL Winfield Cup 24-2412---12---36---1111245.83%List
St GeorgeSt George19831983 NSWRFL Winfield Cup 23124-9--9---36-2-158162.50%List
St GeorgeSt George19841984 NSWRL Winfield Cup 26-26-6--6---24-1-179-65.38%List
St GeorgeSt George19851985 NSWRL Winfield Cup 123------------21-66.67%List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs19861986 NSWRL Winfield Cup 12-12-2--2---8---66-50.00%List

NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
St George1979-85 14431473815--53---174-3-8655658.50%List
Eastern Suburbs1986 12-12-2--2---8---66-50.00%List

English Career - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
WarringtonWarrington1985/86 27229-13--13---52---199165.52%List
WarringtonWarrington1986/87 39-39-25--25---100---2711169.23%List
WarringtonWarrington1987/88 33134-10--10---40---2111261.76%List

English Career - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Warrington1985-87 993102-48--48---192---6731465.69%List

Your Say

  • Paul Carter
    16 Jun 2011 4:52pm

    In 1980 Johnson was the Dally M Fullback of the year.

  • Anonymous
    31 Oct 2013 10:01pm

    Great player on his day he was equal to any fullback ever to play but I will admit sometimes he looked disinterested

  • Anonymous
    2 Aug 2014 7:40pm

    Very underrated player in an era of top fullbacks, as good as any of them I.M.O. .

  • Ross G
    11 Oct 2014 2:18pm

    One of the best fullbacks to never wear the Green & Gold.

  • Anonymous
    12 Jan 2016 2:13pm

    R.i.p.old mate legend when footy was real

  • Stuart Lockwood
    21 Jun 2019 6:58am

    So sorry to hear this sad news. Brian was my good mate in 5 oc/ 6 oc at Wollongong Public School back in the day. A lovely person.

  • Anonymous
    29 Jun 2020 7:20am

    Long before he joined AC/DC he was a rugby league superstar.

  • Jeff dillon
    18 Dec 2020 3:08pm

    Saddened to hear my hero had passed rest easy mate never forgotten .

  • Anonymous
    21 Jul 2025 7:01pm

    I just finished reading Karen's book.along with Ted Goodwin and Steve Morris this guy was a idol of mine.the book is a sobering read indeed

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Contributions: Greg Fiveash, Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Alan Katzmann, Paul Carter, AJ Lucantonio, Michael Borg, Tony McCarron, Max Turner, Derek Farrar, Bill Bates

Sources:News Reports, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook (1981-82 to 1999), RFL Player Registers, 2006 Official Rugby League Annual