Tom Johnstone

Tom Johnstone (born 13 August 1995) is an England international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for Catalans Dragons in the Super League.

Tom Johnstone
Personal information
Full nameThomas Johnstone
Born (1995-08-13) 13 August 1995
Germany
Height6 ft 1 in (1.86 m)
Weight14 st 7 lb (92 kg)
Playing information
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–22 Wakefield Trinity 115 87 0 0 348
2015(loan) → Featherstone Rovers 2 1 0 0 4
2023– Catalans Dragons 26 27 0 0 108
Total 143 115 0 0 460
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018– England 2 5 0 0 20
Source: [1][2]
As of 18 October 2023

He has spent time on loan from Wakefield at Featherstone Rovers in the Championship. Johnstone was the winner of the Super League Young Player of the Year in 2016.

Background

Johnstone was born in Germany and is of Scottish descent.[3]

With his father in the Army, Johnstone was born in Germany. Johnstone has lived in England since he was very young; as a junior, he played for Stanningley Amateur Rugby League Club. He attended Pudsey Grangefield School and represented the City of Leeds sprinting team at Indoor athletics.

Playing career

Wakefield Trinity

Johnstone plays at Wing or Centre. He is noted as one of the fastest players in the game. He has also represented England at under 19's level. He made his professional début for Wakefield Trinity against Leeds in 2014 during a Boxing day friendly at Headingley. He made his full Super League début for an injury-hit Wakefield Trinity side in their 2015 Round 7 defeat by Wigan. He played 13 times in his first season at Wakefield Trinity, scoring 9 tries. He scored his first Wakefield Trinity try against St Helens in a 44-4 defeat. In his second season 2016 he scored one length of the field effort that was considered to be the try of the season.

The Wakefield Trinity club signed him up on a long four-season deal, an unprecedented step by the club. Arguably the brightest young talent in English Rugby League, Johnstone is widely regarded as one of the fastest players in the Super League if not the fastest and is without a doubt one of the best finishers. Johnstone received his first International call up against France in 2018, he scored a sensational hat-trick of tries on his debut. Johnstone was one of the favourites in 2019 to become Super League's top try-scorer and he appeared well motivated to achieve that accolade until injury struck.[4] In round 1 of the 2021 Super League season, Johnstone scored two tries and received the man of the match award in Wakefield's 28–22 loss against Leeds.[5]

Catalans Dragons

On 5 July 2022, Johnstone signed a two-year deal to join the Catalans Dragons starting on 2023.[6] On 15 July 2022, Johnstone was ruled out for the remainder of the 2022 Super League season with a groin injury.[7]

In round 1 of the 2023 Super League season, Johnstone made his club debut for Catalans against his former club Wakefield Trinity. Johnstone would score a hat-trick in Catalans 38-24 victory. In round 5 of the competition, he scored another hat-trick in Catalans 26-12 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers.[8] On 1 April 2023, he scored his 100th career try in a 22–18 win against Castleford Tigers.[9] In round 13 of the 2023 Super League season, Johnstone scored two tries against his former club Wakefield Trinity as Catalans won 36-6.[10] The following week, Johnstone scored a hat-trick in Catalans 46-22 victory over Wigan at Magic Weekend.[11] On 14 October 2023, Johnstone played in Catalans 2023 Super League Grand Final loss against Wigan.[12]

International career

In 2018 he was selected for England against France at the Leigh Sports Village.[13]

Injuries

Johnstone has suffered two career-threatening anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injuries, one in each leg. The first was in 2017, the second was in 2019 from which he recovered in time to take part in 2020's Super League XXV.

References
  1. loverugbyleague
  2. RLP
  3. "Getting to know: Tom Johnstone". Total Rugby League. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  4. "Wakefield Trinity: Tom Johnstone has 'half an eye' on top-try accolade". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  5. "Leeds roar back to deny Tom Johnstone-inspired Wakefield in Super League". The Guardian.
  6. "Wakefield Trinity's Tom Johnstone's future confirmed". www.seriousaboutrl.com.
  7. "Tom Johnstone: Wakefield Trinity winger ruled out for season". www.bbc.co.uk.
  8. "Super League: Catalans Dragons 26-12 Hull KR - hosts continue perfect start to season". www.bbc.co.uk.
  9. "Super League: Catalans Dragons 22-18 Castleford Tigers -Mike McMeeken scores late winner". BBC Sport. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  10. "Super League: Catalans Dragons 36-6 Wakefield Trinity - Tom Johnstone punishes former club". www.bbc.co.uk.
  11. "Super League: Wigan Warriors 22-46 Catalans - Johnstone hat-trick helps Dragons move top". www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. "Wigan Warriors crowned Super League champions after downing Dragons". www.theguardian.com.
  13. "Tom Johnstone marks debut with England hat-trick against France". telegraph.co.uk. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
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