Sign in | Register

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 Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tour Matches Illawarra FirstsILL - 1 - 1 ----- - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Representative Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tour Matches Warrington 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 Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) 1 156 3 159 3817--55 - - - 182 - 3 - 92 61 6 57.86% List
NRL Finals - 9 1 10 21--3 - - - 10 - - - 6 4 - 60.00% List
Preseason Cup - 5 1 6 2---2 - - - 6 - - - 3 2 1 50.00% List
Midweek Cup - 20 - 20 10---10 - - - 30 - - - 11 9 - 55.00% List
Club Career - UK   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
English Championship - 71 - 71 -33--33 - - - 132 - - - 47 20 4 66.20% List
Premiership Trophy 1 3 3 6 -4--4 - - - 16 - - - 4 2 - 66.67% List
Challenge Cup - 6 - 6 -1--1 - - - 4 - - - 3 3 - 50.00% List
Regal Trophy - 12 - 12 -7--7 - - - 28 - - - 9 3 - 75.00% List
Lancashire Cup - 7 - 7 -3--3 - - - 12 - - - 4 3 - 57.14% List
UK Top Division - 71 - 71 -33--33 - - - 132 - - - 47 20 4 66.20% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  282 7 289 5065--115 - - - 410 - 3 - 174 104 11 60.21% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Illawarra Firsts 1977-78   7 - 7 5---5 - - - 15 - - - 5 2 - 71.43% List
NSW Country Firsts 1978   1 - 1 ----- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List

NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
St GeorgeSt George 19791979 NSWRFL   24 - 2412---12 - - - 36 - - - 19 5 - 79.17% List
St GeorgeSt George 19801980 NSWRFL   24 - 2410---10 - - - 30 - - - 14 8 2 58.33% List
St GeorgeSt George 19811981 NSWRFL   22 - 224---4 - - - 12 - - - 8 13 1 36.36% List
St GeorgeSt George 19821982 NSWRFL Winfield Cup   24 - 2412---12 - - - 36 - - - 11 11 2 45.83% List
St GeorgeSt George 19831983 NSWRFL Winfield Cup   23 1 24-9--9 - - - 36 - 2 - 15 8 1 62.50% List
St GeorgeSt George 19841984 NSWRL Winfield Cup   26 - 26-6--6 - - - 24 - 1 - 17 9 - 65.38% List
St GeorgeSt George 19851985 NSWRL Winfield Cup   1 2 3----- - - - - - - - 2 1 - 66.67% List
Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs 19861986 NSWRL Winfield Cup   12 - 12-2--2 - - - 8 - - - 6 6 - 50.00% List

NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
St George 1979-85   144 3 147 3815--53 - - - 174 - 3 - 86 55 6 58.50% List
Eastern Suburbs 1986   12 - 12 -2--2 - - - 8 - - - 6 6 - 50.00% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
WarringtonWarrington 1985/86   27 2 29-13--13 - - - 52 - - - 19 9 1 65.52% List
WarringtonWarrington 1986/87   39 - 39-25--25 - - - 100 - - - 27 11 1 69.23% List
WarringtonWarrington 1987/88   33 1 34-10--10 - - - 40 - - - 21 11 2 61.76% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Warrington 1985-87   99 3 102 -48--48 - - - 192 - - - 67 31 4 65.69% 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

Want to have your say? Add a comment.

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