Career
He was a state and national representative player of the 1940s and was heavily involved in coaching development in the 1960s and "70s. Johnson began his senior career as a sixteen-year-old playing for Portuguese Kembla on the New South Wales south coast, He primarily played at hooker and was first selected to represent for NSW Country in 1940. During World World War II, Johnson played two seasons with Saint George in 1944–1945.
In 1946 he returned to the south-coast and captain-coached Wollongong that year.
That year he was selected in a Southern Districts representative side who were victorious over the visiting Great Britain tourists
In 1947, Johnson was back in Sydney, this time with the Newtown Bluebags. He was selected for the New South Wales team and at the end of the 1948 season he toured with the Kangaroos.
Johnson injured his leg early in the tour in England and he participated in only seven tour matches. Johnson was captain-coach of the Bluebags in 1952 and in 1953 was a non-playing coach.
His attempt to retire from playing was not entirely successful as he was required to fill in on-field occasionally and in 1954 he was persuaded to return as hooker for the season by his coaching successor, Colonel Geelan.
The team made it to the Grand Final but were beaten by Souths and Johnson finally retired from playing. Johnson maintained his connection with the game, firstly as a coach with Wollongong Wests in 1957. Johnson was responsible for developing coaching and playing skills in Darwin, Northern Territory, and in Papua New Guinea.
From 1970 to 1975 he coached the Darwin and Northern Territory teams.
The medal was first awarded in 1973. Frank"s great-nephew Matthew Johnson played for the club and made junior Northern Territory representative appearances.
