Playing Career
Vital Statistics
- Nickname(s)
- Golden Boy
- Born
- Wednesday, 22nd July, 1942
- Current Age
- 82 years and 140 days
- Place Of Birth
- Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Honours & Awards
Based only on data available in the RLP database. This information should be used as a guide only.
- The Ashes
- 1966, 1967/1968
- Test Series
- Australia vs South Africa 1963, Australia vs France 1964
- Interstate Series
- 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969
Biography
C’bury ‘Golden Boy’ was a brilliant fullback whose career was constantly interrupted by injury. The slightly built 19-year-old represented Country in 1961 from Souths Newcastle but in what would be a familiar pattern throughout his career, he withdrew from the Country team the following year because of injury. After starring for Newcastle in 1962 Les Johns came to C’bury in 1963 and his outstanding form drew praise from the national selectors. Johns made his international debut against South Africa that year and toured with the 1963-64 Kangaroos. He did not play a Test on tour (Ken Thornett held down the fullback position) but appeared in one Test against France at the end of the tour. Johns was unfortunate in that he was one of many great fullbacks playing during the 1960s – Barnes, Thornett, Langlands and Simms - but he made the most of his opportunities when selected. He was called into the third and deciding Test against Great Britain in 1966 and despite conceding a penalty try with a late tackle and throwing a pass that resulted in an intercept try, Johns was involved in three of Australia's five tries that secured a 19-14 win and the Ashes. 1967 was a watershed year for the plucky fullback despite missing half the season through injury. His efforts in a beaten grand final team against Souths were nothing short of inspirational and he went on to play in all 6 Tests on the 1967-68 Kangaroo tour. Cool under pressure and a good kicker in open play, English fans admired Johns’ ability to bob up anywhere on the field. He missed the 1968 World Cup because of injury and his last ‘rep’ tour was to NZ in 1969. Johns continued to produce his best for the C’bury club but knee injuries finally caught up with him in 1971 and a comeback was aborted the following year. A talented cricketer with the Sutherland club Les Johns could have easily carved out a career in that sport had the call to rugby league not been so strong.
- ALAN WHITICKER
Playing Career Statistics
All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.
To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
Competitions | |||||||||||||||
| Competition | Comp Wins | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ashes | 2 | 4 | - | 2 | - | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75.00% | List | ||||
| Tour Matches | Newcastle Firsts (AU) | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | - | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
| Tour Matches | New South Wales Firsts | - | 4 | 1 | 7 | - | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50.00% | List | |||
| Tour Matches | Sydney Firsts | - | 1 | - | 7 | - | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
| Tour Matches | Australia | - | 21 | 3 | 56 | 1 | 123 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 71.43% | List | |||
| Test Series | 4 | 14 | 2 | 30 | - | 62 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 57.14% | List | ||||
| Interstate Series | 6 | 15 | 3 | 74 | 3 | 163 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 93.33% | List | ||||
| City vs Country Firsts | - | 5 | - | 17 | - | 34 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) | - | 103 | 14 | 231 | 21 | 545 | 44 | 57 | 2 | 42.72% | List | ||||
| NSWRFL Finals | - | 3 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | List | ||||
| Preseason Cup | - | 25 | 4 | 44 | 5 | 110 | 7 | 16 | 2 | 28.00% | List | ||||
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Test Matches - By Team | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Australia | 1963-69 | 14 | 2 | 30 | - | 66 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 57.14% | List | ||||
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Australia - By Team | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| NSW Country Seconds | 1961 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | List | ||||
| Newcastle (AU) | 1962 | 1 | 1 | 4 | - | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| NSW Firsts | 1962-66, 1969 | 19 | 4 | 81 | 3 | 180 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 84.21% | List | ||||
| Sydney Firsts | 1963 | 2 | - | 10 | - | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| NSW City Firsts | 1963, 1965-66, 1968-69 | 5 | - | 17 | - | 34 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| NSW City Seconds | 1964 | 1 | 1 | 7 | - | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| Overall | 1961-1969 | 29 | 6 | 119 | 3 | 262 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 86.21% | List | ||||
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NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) - By Year | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1963 | 13 | 3 | 39 | - | 87 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 46.15% | List | ||||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1964 | 13 | 2 | 34 | - | 74 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 7.69% | List | ||||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1965 | 13 | - | 40 | 1 | 82 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 38.46% | List | ||||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1966 | 11 | 3 | 20 | 1 | 51 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 36.36% | List | ||||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1967 | 11 | 2 | - | 2 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 63.64% | List | ||||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1968 | 11 | - | 10 | 5 | 30 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 27.27% | List | ||||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1969 | 18 | 2 | 55 | 11 | 138 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 50.00% | List | ||||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1970 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | List | ||||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1971 | 10 | 1 | 33 | 1 | 70 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 70.00% | List | ||||
NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) - By Team | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Canterbury | 1963-71 | 103 | 14 | 231 | 21 | 545 | 44 | 57 | 2 | 42.72% | List | ||||
Contributions:
Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Max Turner, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Rugby League Tables, Tony McCarron, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates
Your Say
02/10/2011
Les John's was dynamic. The most exciting footballer I have ever seen play, the ball only had to come near him & the whole crowd was on it's feet. Pity treatment of injuries was not advanced at that time. Could also have been A Grade Cricketer too!
26/04/2012
Actually, was an A grade cricketer - for Petersham-Marrickville in the SCA. Opening bat
whose career well extended past the RL one. A really charming & delightful man to meet!
23/05/2012
EE Christensen's Official NSW Rugby League Year Book Player of the Year 1968.
30/07/2013
Les was a fantastic footballer, he had an uncanny ability to sniff out a try or make a try saving tackle. to highlight Les outstanding ability, Australian selectors picked Les at fullback with another champion fullback Graeme Langland picked in the centres. Les Johns was the equal of-todays fabulous talents like Slater, Barba, Inglis it was great to watch him play.
04/10/2013
Les Johns was the best fullback I have ever seen and I saw them all since 1960. He had the attacking flair of Ben Barba but he could tackle like no other fullback could. He could kick goals, take bombs and score tries with the best of them. I did meet him once. He played in South Newcastle RL Team with my younger brother. Does anyone know how I could contact him?
09/10/2013
I had the pleasure of playing several one day matches with Les (he was a guest player) down at Wollongong during the eighties. What a thorough gentleman.
I am not sure if Les played for Petersham, but he certainly was a Sutho stalward.
12/05/2014
The reason I became a Bulldog supporter except for the injuries would have been recognised as the best fullback ever and would easily handle the modern game as we know it now did it all
08/07/2014
Les Johns was a child hood hero of mine playing for the Berries. I can remember my father taking me into the dressing room to meet Les after a game at Belmore one day as a 8 or 9 year old. Then about 10 years later I played my first 1st Grade cricket match against St George at Waitara oval in Sydney the club Les played for at the time. So to play cricket against Les after watching him play football as a kid is something I will never forget.
22/07/2014
He started his grade cricket career with Bankstown as you may expect....always willing to talk to his fans.
16/03/2017
Before moving to the Sutherland Club, Les played 1st grade cricket for Petersham in the 1970s where one of his teammates was fellow Canterbury RLC player & NSW cricketer Graeme Hughes.
08/04/2017
Saw Les play at St.Helens Northern England in the 1960,s.We were both young men.Is Les related to Andrew and Matthew?Thanks for my memories Les.John.
07/08/2017
I consider myself blessed to have seen the mercurial Les Johns play. I am reminded of the current state of the Bulldogs when I 1st started following the Berries back in 1963, a fairly ordinary team with a sensational fullback. however back then they were the greatest "family" club ever. I will remain loyal forever thanks to the likes of players like the great Les Johns...
Freddy
23/02/2019
I loved watching les play he was a natural
22/10/2020
Les Johns was the best fullback I witnessed as a kid going to Belmore Oval. He could do anything and if he got the ball everyone was on their feet. The man was plagued with injuries but when we saw that blond hair coming onto the field with the number 1 jumper on it made the game walking up from Campsie worthwhile. What a talent.
09/02/2021
I have worked in the ragetrade for over 50years,Les came to the factory were i was working in 1989 and ordered suits etc.
We struck a friendship,He rang me later that year to go to the grand final and i sat in the members stand with him.
Absolute gentleman,no beers,only tea.
21/03/2021
100% agree. Les Johns was the most exciting fullback to watch. Followed The Berries from the first time I ever saw him play. Would love to hear his thoughts on the behaviour of players today. He always appeared to me to be a gentleman on the field and never heard a word of scandal about him.
16/07/2021
Again the greatest player I have seen over past 66 years. He had it all, defence, attack, goal kicking, line kicking and even was first to catch line kicks and jump back inside field of play. So many incredible tackles but I think the best was on A flying Kevin Yow Yeh at Sydney sports ground. He looked like he had popped up from a trap dooor and was air borne and dropped him like a stone.
06/09/2021
You all forget that it was his own team mate that ended his footie career. It was Dr George Kapponis that kicked him in the knee . He was the reason why John greaves left berries for Souths .
06/10/2021
Les Johns was the most Superb Fullback & a player with true class. As a teenager I followed the Berries all over the greater Sydney area & to Penrith to watch Les Johns play. When Johns started to chase down an opponent the entire stadium would be on their feet. To witness this little blonde packet of dynamite dive, as in fly, through the air & bring down opponents twice his weight and size by grabbing their feet was like watching a choreographed ballet.
Though Johns played the position of Fullback he popped up all over the field & made tries, tackles, kicked goals & field goals. It was disheartening to watch opposing players deliberately injury Les Johns to eliminate the threat of his brilliance in the game.
28/02/2023
My first nrl test 3rd 1966 Les John’s was Magic my wests hero Peter Diamond had a great day also those great wingers Irvine and King good memories
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