Dallas Johnson
{{short description|Australia international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Dallas Johnson
|fullname =
|image = Dallas Johnson.JPG
|image_size =
|position = {{Rlp|LK}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|11|23|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Herberton, Queensland, Australia
|height = {{convert|183|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|93|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|club1 = Melbourne Storm
|year1start = 2003
|year1end = 09
|appearances1 = 157
|tries1 = 12
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 48
|club2 = Catalans Dragons
|year2start = 2010
|year2end =
|appearances2 = 28
|tries2 = 1
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 4
|club3 = North Qld Cowboys
|year3start = 2011
|year3end = 13
|appearances3 = 65
|tries3 = 2
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 8
|teamA = Queensland
|yearAstart = 2006
|yearAend = 09
|appearancesA = 12
|triesA = 1
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 4
|teamB = Australia
|yearBstart = 2007
|yearBend =
|appearancesB = 1
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|retired = yes
|source = {{Cite web |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Dallas-Johnson/ |title=loverugbyleague |access-date=6 December 2017 |archive-date=7 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207012845/https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Dallas-Johnson/ |url-status=dead }}[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Dallas_Johnson/summary.html Rugby League Project][https://web.archive.org/web/20111125093818/http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx?s=player-profile-display&id=3548&player=dallas-johnson&team=Cowboys Nth Qld Cowboys]
|updated = 20 October 2011}}
Dallas Johnson (born 23 November 1982) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played between 2003 and 2013. An Australia national and Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the Australian clubs Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys, and in the Super League for French club Catalans Dragons.
Between 2006 and 2009, Johnson played in four consecutive NRL grand finals for the Melbourne Storm, of which the club won two, only for both to be stripped due to salary cap breaches. He has represented the Queensland Maroons in four State of Origin series and played one match for the Australian national team. He is known for his prolific tackling.
Background
Johnson was born in Herberton, Queensland on 23 November 1982,{{cite web|url=http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx?s=player-profile-display&id=3548&player=dallas-johnson&team=Cowboys|title=Player profile: Dallas Johnson|work=cowboys.com.au|publisher=North Queensland Cowboys|access-date=20 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125093818/http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx?s=player-profile-display&id=3548&player=dallas-johnson&team=Cowboys|archive-date=25 November 2011|url-status=dead}} and was raised on his family's farm on Queensland's Atherton Tablelands and educated at Atherton State High School. He played his junior football in his town of Atherton Roosters, where he was the captain of the Roosters under 18 premiership in 1999.{{cite web |last1=Garland |first1=Jake |title=I didn't think much of him then': NRL rivals become premiership teammates |url=https://www.codesports.com.au/nrl/local-footy/25-years-ago-they-lined-up-in-an-under-18s-grand-final-little-did-they-know-they-would-become-premiership-teammates/news-story/b24c6547b221a5da5fa4cf510e93263a |website=Code Sports |publisher=News Corporation Australia |access-date=6 August 2024 |date=5 August 2024}} There he was scouted by the Melbourne Storm.
Professional playing career
=Melbourne Storm=
After playing in the Queensland Cup for the Storm's affiliate Norths Devils, Johnson moved to the Storm for the 2003 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/dallas-ready-for-origin-fire/story-e6frfgbo-1111113734887|title=NRL Dallas ready for Origin fire|last=Donaghy|first=Dave|date=13 June 2007|work=Herald Sun|access-date=17 October 2011}}
He played in the Storm's opening match of the season, alongside fellow first-grade debutant and future Australian and Queensland fullback Billy Slater.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/13/1047431151795.html|title=Storm Skipper does the talking for teenage trio|date=14 March 2003|work=The Age|access-date=18 October 2011}} Johnson appeared in 20 first-grade matches that season, and the following year extended his contract.{{cite news|url=http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=5223|title=Johnson seals future with Storm|last=Avery|first=James|date=28 July 2004|work=League Unlimited|access-date=18 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405153116/http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=5223|archive-date=5 April 2012}}
After three seasons of regular first-grade football, Johnson earned representative honours in 2006, being selected for Queensland in the State of Origin series. He started in all three matches of the series, which Queensland won.{{cite news|url=http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=25232|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918102317/http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=25232|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2012|title=Storm stars rewarded for great start to season|date=15 May 2006|work=rleague.com|access-date=18 October 2011}}
Later that year he played in Melbourne's grand final loss to Brisbane.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/5392958.stm|title=Broncos edge Storm for NRL title|date=1 October 2006|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 October 2011}}
Johnson was a key member of Melbourne's team of 2007, making an average of 36 tackles a match.{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/dallas-johnsons-test-call-up/story-e6frep5x-1111114590229|title=NRL Dallas Johnson's Test call-up reward|last=Marshall|first=Matt|date=8 October 2007|work=The Courier-Mail|access-date=17 October 2011}} Melbourne won the season's grand final against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, but in 2010 were stripped of their premiership after the NRL discovered large-scale breaches of the league's salary cap.
File:Dallas Johnson Melbourne Storm.jpg
Johnson's 2007 form was rewarded by his selection in the Australian Kangaroos team for a Test against New Zealand in October.
In the same season, he made a record-breaking 62 tackles in Queensland's victory over New South Wales in the second match of the 2007 State of Origin series.{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/cowboys-welcome-back-dallas-johnson-back-for-nrl-finals-clash-with-manly/story-e6frep5x-1226129838128|title=Cowboys welcome back Dallas Johnson back for NRL finals clash with Manly|date=5 September 2011|work=The Courier-Mail|access-date=15 October 2011}} In the third match, he was taken from the field in the first half after suffering a concussion. Queensland's medical staff controversially allowed him to return to the field in the second half, where he make 25 tackles.{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/kod-johnson-apologises/story-e6frep5o-1111113895013|title=KO'd Johnson apologises|last=deKroo|first=Karl|date=6 July 2007|work=The Courier-Mail|access-date=15 October 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/why-did-johnson-return-bellamy/story-e6frexnr-1111113895684|title=Why did Johnson return: Bellamy|last=Ritchie|first=Dean|date=6 July 2007|work=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|access-date=15 October 2011}}
Johnson played his 150th match for Melbourne during the 2008 NRL season; achieving the same milestone with Billy Slater who made his debut alongside Johnson in 2003.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/slater-johnson-did-it-the-hard-way-for-melbourne-storm/story-e6frfgdf-1225758811200|title=North Queensland Cowboys Slater, Johnson did it the hard way for Melbourne Storm|last=Gould|first=Russell|date=7 August 2009|work=Herald Sun|access-date=18 October 2011}} He would again feature in the grand final, with the Storm defeated by Manly,{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24449388-23214,00.html|title=Grand final: As it happened|work=Fox Sports|date=5 October 2008|access-date=5 October 2008}}
Johnson was named in the preliminary 46-man Australian squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup;{{cite news|author=Liam FitzGibbon|publisher="Fox Sports News (Australia)"|title=Surprises in Kangaroos squad|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24111780-23214,00.html|access-date=2 August 2008|date=1 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808144730/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0%2C8659%2C24111780-23214%2C00.html|archive-date=8 August 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/01/sports/AS-RGL-Australia-Squad.php|title=Veteran Lockyer named in Australian squad|work=International Herald Tribune|date=1 August 2008|access-date=2 August 2008}} however, he missed out on selection in the final squad of 24 players.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/manly-dominate-world-cup-squad/story-e6frf3yc-1111117685442|title=Manly dominate World Cup squad|date=7 October 2008|work=Fox Sports (Australia)|access-date=19 October 2011}}
Johnson again represented Queensland in all three matches of the 2008 State of Origin series, which Queensland won.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/State_Of_Origin_2008/summary.html|title=State Of Origin 2008|work=Rugby League Project|access-date=19 October 2011}} Johnson again suffered a head injury, in the opening match of the series, leading some to question the safety of his low tackling style (in other words, his preference to tackle a player around his legs rather than his torso).{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/legal-threat-looms/story-e6frfgbx-1111116495465|title=NRL News Legal threat looms|last=Donaghy|first=Dave|author2=Massoud, Josh|date=31 May 2008|work=Herald Sun|access-date=20 October 2011}}
2009 would be Johnson's last season at Melbourne. After the end of the season he signed a three-year contract with the French club Catalans Dragons in the Super League.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/dallas-johnson-leaves-storm-to-play-in-france-for-catalans-dragons/comments-e6frexnr-1225796867393|title=Dallas Johnson leaves Storm to play in France for Catalans Dragons|date=12 November 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|access-date=19 October 2011}} His final season for Melbourne was a success: he played in the Storm's grand final win over the Parramatta Eels although, as in 2007, the Storm were later stripped of their premiership due to large-scale breaches of the league's salary cap.
Johnson again played in all three matches of the 2009 State of Origin series, as Queensland won their fourth series in a row.{{cite news|work=Fox Sports|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25398645-5016947,00.html|title=Queensland name preliminary State of Origin squad|access-date=28 April 2009|date=28 April 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918133045/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25398645-5016947,00.html|archive-date=18 September 2012}} He scored the opening try in the third match, his first in State of Origin, when he fell onto a Johnathan Thurston grubber kick.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/motor-mouth-hodges-confirms-what-many-already-thought/story-e6frexni-1225750695001|title=Motor-mouth Hodges removes all doubt|last=Webster|first=Andrew|date=16 July 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|access-date=20 October 2011}}
=Catalans Dragons=
Moving to France, Johnson would play under the coaching of his fellow Queenslander Kevin Walters, who declared Johnson to be a "champion player" with "exceptional defensive skills".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/catalan/8358437.stm|title=Johnson and Sa sign for Catalans|date=13 November 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=20 October 2011}} Johnson played in 26 matches for the Dragons in the 2010 season; the club finished on the bottom of the Super League ladder. Johnson left the club at the end of the season, with two years left on his contract, to return to the NRL for the North Queensland Cowboys. Johnson claimed that a return to Australia would be better for his family, his daughter having been born during the 2010 season.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/catalan/8956155.stm|title=Dallas Johnson to leave Catalans Dragons for NRL|date=31 August 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=20 October 2011}} He signed a three-year contract with the Cowboys starting in 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/cowboys-set-for-overhaul-as-dallas-johnson-signs-on-20100831-148pd.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Brad|last=Walter|title=Cowboys set for overhaul as Dallas Johnson signs on|date=31 August 2010}}
=North Queensland Cowboys=
By April 2011, Johnson had broken the Cowboys' record for the most tackles in a game, making 64 in a defeat by the Parramatta Eels.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/dallas-johnson-breaks-record-for-number-of-tackles-made-by-a-cowboys-player/story-e6frexnr-1226033366677|title=Dallas Johnson breaks record for number of tackles made by a Cowboys player|last=Thompson|first=Michael|date=4 April 2011|work=Townsville Bulletin|access-date=15 October 2011}} He also broke the Cowboys' record for the most tackles by a player in a season, with 1,006, averaging 41.9 per game.{{cite news|url=http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=44348&title=cowboy-of-the-year-%E2%80%93-our-main-contenders|title=Cowboy of the Year – our main contenders|date=7 October 2011|work=cowboys.com.au|access-date=15 October 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525131432/https://www.webcitation.org/62Sosmv3s?url=http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx%3Fs=article-display&id=44348&title=cowboy-of-the-year-%E2%80%93-our-main-contenders|archive-date=25 May 2024|url-status=dead}} While a regular member of a Cowboys team that spent much of the season in the top four on the NRL ladder, he missed out on selection for the State of Origin series.{{cite news|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2011/05/18/231891_sport.html|title=Johnson disappointed to miss Origin call-up|last=Thompson|first=Michael|date=18 May 2011|work=Townsville Bulletin|access-date=20 October 2011}}
Darren Lockyer, under whose captaincy Johnson played for Queensland, described Johnson as a "tackling machine", who would get knocked out "countless times... and get back up".{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/the-players-that-helped-queensland-win-five-state-of-origin-series-in-a-row/story-e6frepbx-1225887271303|title=The players that helped Queensland win five State of Origin series in a row|last=Lockyer|first=Darren|date=3 July 2010|work=The Courier-Mail|access-date=20 October 2011}} Johnson's coach at the Melbourne Storm, Craig Bellamy, commented upon Johnson's departure from the club that he was "the toughest player I have ever seen".{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/melbourne-storm-forward-dallas-johnson-to-play-in-france/story-e6frf9if-1225796785155|title=Melbourne Storm forward Dallas Johnson to play in France|last=Gould|first=Russell|date=12 November 2009|work=Herald Sun|access-date=20 October 2011}}
Johnson who missed out on Origin selection in 2011, was named 18th man for the second origin game in Sydney after vice-captain Sam Thaiday pulled out with a shoulder injury. Many media outlets and reporters said Johnson was the best signing of 2011 for the Cowboys and has continued to be a stand out performer for the club over two seasons, averaging 42 tackles a game, and adds a lot of leadership and stability to the club - which coach Neil Henry has said about him.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
Johnson made his 200th NRL appearance in round 21, 2012 against the Canterbury Bulldogs, in a match where Johnson was named man of the match in a losing Cowboys side. Johnson made 51 tackles and 75 metres from 10 hit-ups in the game. In the week heading into the game, teammates said Dallas Johnson was as important to the team as club co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott.
In 2013 Johnson announced that it would be his last season but was forced into retirement earlier due to a mid-season knee injury.{{cite news|last=Clarke|first=Laine|title=Cowboys backrower Dallas Johnson's NRL career over|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/dallas-cowboys-back-rower-dallas-johnsons-nrl-career-over/story-fni3g8pa-1226688303249|access-date=13 May 2014|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=30 July 2013}}
References
{{commons category}}
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Melbourne Storm squad - 2007 NRL Grand Final winners}}
{{Melbourne Storm squad - 2009 NRL Grand Final winners}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Dallas}}
Category:Australia national rugby league team players
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Catalans Dragons players
Category:Melbourne Storm players
Category:North Queensland Cowboys players
Category:People from Far North Queensland
Category:Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players