Leslie Howard Johns (born 1942 in Newcastle, New South Wales) is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Club career
Les Johns, of Welsh descent, started his career at Newcastle's Souths club.
He then played nine seasons for the Canterbury-Bankstown club between 1963 and 1971. He scored 14 tries and 233 goals and 19 field goals for Canterbury-Bankstown during his career.
He has been named among the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.[3] He was a fullback of considerable flair and on his day could be one of the most brilliant attacking and defensive players in the game.
He was forced to retire from rugby league in 1971 due to chronic knee injuries.
He is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No.382.[4]
Accolades
In February 2008, Johns was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to
celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.[5]
He was made a life member of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2011.[6]
In 2010 Johns was also named in a South Newcastle team of the century.[7]