sentences:  He was born and grew up in Balmain, Sydney, and started playing rugby league at a junior level when the game commenced in Australia in 1908.In 1911 he made his first grade debut with the Balmain Tigers at half-back.Following Arthur Halloway's move to the Tigers in 1915, Johnston moved to five-eighth and their strong halves partnership was one of factors enabling Balmain to three consecutive premiership titles from 1915 to 1917.