Johnson headed for long rehabilitation
Early signs are that Kiwis and Cronulla playmaker has ruptured an Achilles tendon
Cronulla’s finals campaign has been rocked by fears of a season-ending Achilles rupture to Shaun Johnson as the Roosters rested more than $2.5 million talent, but still marked Mitch Aubusson’s record 303rd outing in style.
Johnson collapsed in agony without a hand being laid on him as the premiers comfortably prevailed 34-18 on Saturday night at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Given his importance to the Sharks’ season, their hopes of making a post-season dent hit the deck when Johnson did.
The Roosters meanwhile did it easy from the outset, ensuring milestone man Aubusson finished his club record 303rd game in red, white and blue a winner.
Just as he has in each of those previous 300-plus outings, Aubusson filled in more than capably, claiming a first-half double after being welcomed onto the paddock via a guard of honour from his teammates.
The fact the Roosters gave nights off to co-captains Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend, powerhouse prop Siosiua Taukeiaho, and the game’s best player in James Tedesco, and yet were never threatened, says a lot about the talent gap between the teams at the top and bottom of the playoff picture.
The Tricolours’ 24-12 halftime lead was a fairer indication of this contest than the Sharks’ admirable late rally.
Without Johnson they will need much more, given his 22 try assists have been far and away the most by any player in this year’s competition and Cronulla have been a different side when he has been in it.
If the initial prognosis of an Achilles rupture for the Kiwi star are confirmed, several months of rehab are in store for Johnson.
Hulking prop Royce Hunt added yet more concern when he went down with a dislocated kneecap late, he too requiring the medicab to take him from the field.
Josh Dugan also failed to finish with his own knee issue, which saw Luke Keary run in a decisive secondhalf try while the Sharks centre was down at the opposite end of the field.
“I was a bit disappointed about that,” Sharks coach John Morris said.
“Play needed to be stopped there. He needed attention on the field.
“I know [there’s] a call to let play go on when guys are down injured, but they scored exactly where Josh should have been in the defensive line down that left edge.
“…I felt that was an ordinary look for our game, to play on when a guy’s injured like that.”
Morris will at least welcome back captain Wade Graham next week against Canberra.
The Cronulla coach hinted he could well do so in the halves given Chad Townsend (suspension) and Matt Moylan (hamstring) are still out, while rookies Connor Tracey and Braydon Trindall boast just 20 NRL games between them.
After the premiers’ nice milestone touch before kick-off for Aubusson, Joey Manu’s short ball, and an ominously bad read by Cronulla’s left edge, gave him a similar saloon passage to the try-line after just four minutes.