Paul Johnson (rugby league, born 1973)
{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| name = Paul Johnson
| fullname = Paul Johnson
| image =
| image_size =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|05|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| height = {{convert|189|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| position = {{Rlp|PR|SR}}
| club1 = Penrith Panthers
| year1start = 1997
| year1end = 98
| appearances1 = 10
| tries1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| fieldgoals1 = 0
| points1 = 0
}}
Paul Johnson (born 8 May 1973) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s. He played for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL competition.
Playing career
Johnson was a Brisbane junior. In 1997, Johnson joined the Penrith Panthers after spending three seasons with the Brisbane Broncos in the reserve grade side. He was voted the Broncos' Most Consistent Reserve Grade Player for 1996 and he came to the Panthers looking for an opportunity to play first grade after not getting the chance at the Broncos. Johnson made his first grade debut at {{rlp|pr}} in his side's 30–20 victory over the Perth Reds at Penrith Stadium in the opening round of 1997 Super League season.{{cite web | url=https://www.panthersworld.com.au/footy/players.htm | title=Super League Panthers Player Profiles }}
Despite being big, strong, and mobile, and known for being a strong defender with a good ‘football brain’, Johnson found it difficult to become a regular first grade player with the Panthers after suffering a career-threatening injury during the 1997 season.{{cite news |last1=Kent |first1=Paul |title=Rams notch up another prize scalp |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited |date=28 April 1997 |location=Sydney, New South Wales |page=27}} Doctors discovered that Johnson had kidney damage and there were fears he would never play again.{{cite news |title=Penrith (news) |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited |date=15 March 1998 |location=Sydney, New South Wales |page=109}} With the emergence of new players such as; Ned Catic, Jody Gall, Lee Hopkins, Duncan MacGillivray, and Tony Puletua, Johnson found it very difficult to hold down a spot in first grade. Johnson played his final first grade game in his side's 27–16 loss to the Parramatta Eels at Penrith Stadium in round 1 of the 1998 season. Johnson would spend part of the 1998 NRL season on the injury list for Penrith.{{cite news |last1=de Kroo |title=Injuries Dent Penrith's Run |work=The Canberra Times |publisher=Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited |date=29 July 1998 |location=Canberra, Australia |page=14}}
He was released from the Panthers at the end of the 1998 season and subsequently never played first grade rugby league again.{{cite book|last=Collis|first=Ian|title=The A to Z of Rugby League Players|year=2018|publisher=New Holland Publishers|isbn=9781921024986}}