12 October 2023 , 04:00
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Waking up in pre-season with an almighty hangover, Catalans’ Tom Johnstone quit the booze and had the year of his life - but it’s not over yet.
The prolific winger hopes to leave Wigan nursing the throbbing headache in Saturday’s Super League Grand Final. Johnstone has been a revelation for Dragons since his big move from Wakefield for the 2023 campaign.
He’s scored 28 tries in as many games, is Super League's joint-top try-scorer, earned Dream Team selection, was shortlisted for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel and fired Catalans to the Old Trafford decider.
Speedster Johnstone has long been one of the comp's most exciting players but was frustrated by injuries and concussions at Wakefield. At Catalans, though, he’s teamed up with the club’s medical staff to get his body in tip-top condition and only missed one game all year. He revealed packing in the beers has been one of the key components.
Johnstone, 28, explained: “I had a drink at pre-season camp but probably took it a bit further than I should have done. I woke up feeling horrible the next day and just thought ‘Why?’ I genuinely sat down with my partner and said ‘Why have I done that?’
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“I only wanted a couple of beers and now I’m absolutely feeling shocking. But this season I've looked at everything I did away from rugby. I’ve looked at all different vitamins, collagen, anything I can take to try and get my body the best I can. Working together we’ve managed to produce something I’ve not been able to for a while: just playing games.”
And Johnstone - who hopes to add to his solitary Test cap when England play Tonga later this month - admitted cutting out the grog has had more than one benefit. He said: “It’s been good for me mentally as well. Obviously it’s a depressant so just not touching it at all I have been feeling really happy with myself.
Catalans Dragons' Tom Johnstone goes in for another try (Ed Sykes/SWpix.com)“I’ve never got up on a day off and not felt right. Instead, I’ve thought ‘what am I going to do today?’ or gone to the club and done some physio or treatment. I’ve been doing massages every day and having ice baths again and I’m sure not drinking has been a contributing factor as well.”
Johnstone says the only time he’s had a drop was a couple of beers on a weekend off in May. It remains to be seen if he’ll celebrate with a drink if Catalans make history by becoming the first French club to win Super League this weekend. They only finished behind leaders Wigan on points difference and the showdown is too close to call.
Johnstone said: “I came to Catalans saying I wanted to win the competition with them. We’ve given ourselves a chance to do that. Now we just need to go finish it. It’s been a very special year for me but the team as well. And the absolute main goal is the Grand Final.”