Les Johns

Arriving at Belmore from Newcastle, goal-kicking sensation Les Johns (Bulldog no.284) proved to be a shining light during one of the more quiet periods in the Club's history. 

Highly skilled with the boot with an ability to tackle and run like a greyhound, Johns - despite featuring in just 103 first-grade games for the Club - proved to be one of the greatest fullbacks in the game, and was renowned as a dynamic match winner. 

So highly regarded was he when a selection panel sat down to pick the 'Rugby League Team of the '60s' in 2006 that he was given the nod as fullback over highly favourable picks Keith Barnes, Ken Thornett and Graeme Langlands. 

Following a representative appearance for Country in 1961 and selection for Newcastle against Great Britain in 1962, the fleet-footed fullback arrived at Belmore the following year after making his debut for New South Wales. 

Quickly establishing himself in first-grade in a season where Canterbury finished third from the bottom, Johns' form was so irresistible to selectors that he wore both the sky blue of NSW and the green and gold of Australia.

Totalling 16 matches for NSW and 14 Tests for his country, Johns' prowess with both ball in hand and in defence saw him selected on the 1963-64 and 1967-68 Kangaroo Tours, as well as the 1965 and 1969 New Zealand Tours.

He soon found himself with the 'C' next to his name in the Blue and White after filling in for sidelined Captain Ray Gartner in just his second season, captaining the side until 1966. 

Despite missing a majority of the 1967 season, Johns returned in time to feature in the Club's first Grand Final in two decades.  

His most consistent season came in 1969, where he played 18 matches and scored in all but one as he tallied 138 points. Following two injury-affected seasons, his glittering career ended in 1971.

Considered the Club's greatest-ever fullback, Johns was named in the Berries to Bulldogs 70 Year Team of Champions in 2004 and on April 1, 2007, was inducted into the Bulldogs Ring of Champions.

Alongside fellow Bulldogs Hall of Famers Steve Mortimer and Terry Lamb, Johns was named in the 100 Greatest Players as part of the NRL's Centenary year celebrations.

In 2011, Les was bestowed with Life Membership of the Football Club, before being inducted in the Canterbury-Bankstown Hall of Fame as part of the Club's 80th Year celebrations on August 1, 2015. 

“Johns could almost pull off the impossible, and always did the unpredictable.”

Peter Moore Former Club CEO