From the Super League war and negotiating the early challenges of the St George Illawarra joint venture to the Jack de Belin sexual assault proceedings and now a global pandemic, Johnston has seen it all across two tenures as chief executive of the Dragons.

Add to that a storied playing career and stint on the St George Illawarra board, and Johnston has lived and breathed rugby league for the entirety of his adult life.

So it would be understandable for the 61-year-old to take a long and indefinite step away from the sport when his second run as CEO officially comes to an end on Thursday.

But that wouldn't be Brian Johnston.

While he will no longer have the chief executive label next to his name, a 40-year connection to the Dragons means Johnston will maintain his love and passion for the game.

"There will be no change at all for me," Johnston said.

"My feelings won't change whether I'm here or not in this position. I'll still be associated in some way, shape or form with the Dragons.

"After 40 years, my habits aren't going to change. All that changes is my role."

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Johnston's second tenure as chief executive has been eventful.

Thrust into the role after WIN Corporation bought out the Illawarra Steelers' remaining share in the joint venture, the former NSW and Australian representative shifted from chairman of the Dragons to CEO.

That shift saw Johnston replace Peter Doust, the only other man to hold the title in the club's 21-year history. Doust was the chief executive for 18 years.

The change came at a time of great optimism for the Dragons.

After a number of lean years on the field, performances were on the improve. A return to the finals in 2018 had many confident the side could challenge for a premiership in the near future.

Off the field, the WIN purchase cleared the club's remaining debt, putting St George Illawarra on firm financial footing.

The honeymoon period came to a sudden and screeching halt, however, the charges laid against de Belin causing immediate off-field headaches and leading to major on-field struggles.

And just as Johnston felt the club was finally about to emerge on the other side of a horror year, COVID-19 hit.

Suddenly the Dragons, and the wider rugby league community, are faced with significant uncertainty.

While he didn't know what the challenges would look like, Johnston was prepared for hurdles to arise and he's proud of the way he, and the Dragons, have navigated the past 18 months.

"There have definitely been a couple of challenges. There always is in sport.

"Whether they're highlighted and publicised or not, there's always a couple of challenges in sport, on and off the field.

"You have to take them in your stride and use your values and experiences to guide you. Use them as education so that you make sure you handle them as best you can for the organisation."

Johnston has watched on as professional rugby league has evolved considerably over the past 20 years.

Spending on football departments has ballooned, with the professionalism of teams and players growing by the season.

That has seen clubs pour ever-more resources into producing the finest athletic specimens, with a focus on athlete mental health and off-field development starting to increase in recent years.

As football departments have grown, administrators are increasingly focused on the corporate side of the sport.

The Dragons, like all clubs in the competition and the NRL itself, have spent the last few years attempting to improve their long-term financial viability.

Johnston recognises it's a work in progress, but he's confident the work that has been done will see the club safely navigate the present uncertain climate.

"In the late '90s, early 2000s, a lot of the focus was on the football. Managing time between football and commercial was 50-50 split. Now the commercial requires 80% and football 20.

"Part of that is because of increased resources in football, I don't need to be around football, they have so many experts. In the business area, even before coronavirus, significant resources are required to balance the books.

"Traditionally, sport clubs are hand to mouth, we're trying to get to the point where we become independent financially. Our shareholders are wonderfully generous, but they're successful because they make a profit, that's where we need to aim.

"On the field we want to win competitions, but a lot of time is spent trying to balance the books. Every club is trying to ensure long-term sustainability of the organisation. We want to be financially sound, irrespective of team performance."

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While he has seen his position take on a greater commercial role in recent years, Johnston also acknowledges he is also responsible for St George Illawarra's on-field performances.

The Dragons have made just two finals series since Wayne Bennett departed at the end of the 2011 season and the Dunedoo product admits it's not good enough.

"It's obvious for any team. If you're not winning, you're not happy."

Johnston has continued to stand by Paul McGregor despite a tough 2019 and winless start to 2020, and he recognises the coach has a unique task ahead, should the season resume.

"The challenge now is the dynamics of the season is going to be very different.

"We need to ensure our organisation from a football perspective is agile, that we have a strategy to be able to apply to a relaunch of the season.

"We also have to keep the mental state of our players focused during an uncertain time. Some of the challenges from a coaching perspective have now become very different, from a team-focus to catering to the individual."

Johnston's departure will see St George Illawarra enter a new era. For the first time, an outsider will hold the role of CEO.

That man will be Ryan Webb, a highly-regarded administrator who has held the role of chief operating officer at the Wests Tigers, and led digital marketing firm Zukaz.

When Johnston announced his retirement last November, the plan was to stay on until April to ensure a smooth handover.

The de Belin trial was expected to conclude in February and the Dragons were set to be a month into a new season after a summer of significant changes.

Instead, the club is filled with uncertainty.

De Belin's case still hasn't gone to trial. The NRL is currently in hiatus. Revenue streams are drying up.

Johnston is prepared to stay on in the coming weeks if the threat of COVID-19 continues to linger.

It's not the smooth handover the Dragons had planned, but in many ways it's a fitting scenario.

If there's one thing Johnston has learnt, it's that the life of a CEO is filled with unexpected trials and tribulations.

"I just say to Ryan to enjoy the role," Johnston said.

"It's an undulating trip each season with the unknown popping up. I'm sure he's well equipped to deal with it."

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