John Morris considers rolling dice on injured stars for must win clash

Cronulla coach John Morris has a difficult decision whether or not to play injured stars Shaun Johnson and Matt Moylan for next Sunday’s must win clash with the Tigers.

Shaun Johnson was a late withdrawal from the clash with Canberra. Picture: Mark Metcalfe

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Cronulla coach John Morris will consider rolling the dice on injured superstars Shaun Johnson and Matt Moylan at Leichhardt Oval this Sunday, with the Sharks now needing to beat the Wests Tigers to make the NRL finals.

Signed to the Shire club on three-year deal worth $3 million, Johnson was forced to watch the Sharks Sunday afternoon loss to Canberra from the interchange bench - still dressed in his footy shorts, and with boots on the ground beside him - after succumbing to a quad injury in the warm up.

While young playmaker Kyle Flanagan was a strong inclusion, playing a key hand in two tries, the rookie also missed all three conversion attempts in a game eventually decided by one point.

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Shaun Johnson was a late withdrawal from the clash with Canberra. Picture: Mark Metcalfe

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Asked about Johnson, the coach said: “He’ll have scans tonight but given quad injuries are usually one or two weeks, you’d have to think there would be some doubt (for the Tigers clash) there.”

And as for the likelihood of Moylan, who also missed the game with a hamstring injury, starting in the must-win Leichhardt Oval clash?

“We may have to risk him to be honest given it could be our last game,” the coach said.

Meanwhile, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart confirmed he will consider resting some of his biggest names for the final round against the Warriors after the stunning Shark Park comeback secured them a top four spot in the playoffs.

Matt Moylan may be rushed back from injury for the vital clash with the Tigers. Picture: Jason McCawley

“I’ll have a think about that,” he said. “I didn’t want to think about that until we were there.

“But I’ll check injuries and see how players are. If there are a couple of niggles I’ll have a look at that.

“It’s important to keep building some momentum and rhythm but it’s also important to get into the finals with everyone as physically prepared and in the best shape possible.

“(Making the top four) is a fantastic result for the players because they’ve worked enormously hard. Same for our members and fans, who mean a lot to us.

“But we haven’t done anything yet.

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“We’ve made the top four, which is a fantastic achievement for a club that wasn’t expected to make the eight, but a new competition starts in two weeks time.”

Despite conceding three tries in the first half, Canberra stormed home over the second 40 minutes to eventually secure a golden point thriller, a top four playoffs berth and the undeniable title of NRL premiership smokey.

Down 12-zip at halftime, the Green Machine rallied with the opening two tries of the second half, through fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and then centre Nick Cotric, to level up with 18 minutes to play.

And from there?

Well, it was a shoot out between rival halfbacks Aidan Sezer and Chad Townsend - with the Raiders No.7 going one up in the second stanza of extra time.

Originally published as John Morris considers rolling dice on injured stars for must win clash