Background
He was born and grew up in Balmain, Sydney and started playing rugby league at a junior level when the game commenced in Australia in 1908.
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Albert Johnston
Edit ProfileCareer
He was a three-quarter for the Australian national team and played in eight Tests between 1919 and 1922, two as captain. Club career In 1911 he made his first grade debut with the Balmain Tigers at half-back. He joined Wests for the 1918 season, then spent two years as captain-coach at Newtown 1919-1920.
Following his Australian representative appearances in 1920 the admission of the Street George Dragons meant that Johnston being a local resident had to play with the club, which he did for his final two club seasons of 1921 and 1922.
Representative career 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 Johnston led the side to a series victory in Auckland in the process becoming Australia"s 11th Kangaroo captain.
In 1920 Johnston was chosen for the first Test of the domestic Ashes series. He captained the side to an 8-4 victory over England. Johnston did not captain Australia again.
He appeared for New South Wales through till 1922 and toured with the 1921-1922 Kangaroos playing in the 1st Test and in 11 tour matches.
Coaching career Johnston coached Newtown in 1923, 1925 and 1926 and Wests in 1924. He coached Street George in 1933-1935 taking the club to their first premiership final.
