NRL 2021: Shaun Johnson injured as Cronulla Sharks beat Canterbury Bulldogs 44-24

There are doubts over Shaun Johnson’s immediate future — and Cronulla’s finals push — after the playmaker suffered a serious injury.

Matt Moylan has signed a cut-price deal to stay with the Sharks. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The Sharks are back in the top eight but it may have come at a huge cost with Shaun Johnson’s Cronulla future in doubt after he limped off with a hamstring injury in their 44-24 win over the fast-finishing Bulldogs.

The veteran halfback had been involved in everything in the first half on Sunday as he bounced back from a poor display last week against the Raiders.

He set up two tries and had Canterbury’s left edge in a spin before he came off with six minutes to go in the first half clutching at his right hamstring.

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“We won’t know the severity of his hamstring injury until maybe tonight (Sunday) or until tomorrow,” Josh Hannay said.

“We just cross our fingers that it’s not too bad.

“One of the keys to turning our season around has been health and having our best players out there. We’ve got some good talent on the pine at the moment and that’s not ideal.”

It’s awful news for the Sharks who are battling to play finals footy for the seventh year in a row, and it raises questions over whether the Warriors-bound halfback may have played his last game for the club.

Shaun Johnson leaves the field with a hamstring injury.

Johnson, who missed the start of the season with an Achilles injury, has already suffered a hamstring setback in 2021 and could be facing a long stint out if this is a serious strain or tear.

“One thing I know about Shaun is that he looks after himself,” Hannay said, adding Matt Moylan could return next week.

“I think he’s a reasonably quick healer and I know he’ll jump into his recovery and rehab and do everything he can to get back as quick as he can.

“We won’t jump at shadows.”

The injury spoilt an otherwise perfect first half for the Sharks who were celebrating the big signing of Dale Finucane for the next four seasons.

They started the second half poorly, but Toby Rudolf’s try stemmed the bleeding, with his CPR celebration the perfect metaphor for their revival.

“He just looks so genuine as a person,” Hannay said of the incoming Storm star.

“He just seems like a leader, and he seems like a guy who’s going to set a really high standard for everyone else to follow.”

Classic hamstring strain for Shaun Johnson, has a complex history of lower limb muscle strains + achilles rupture in 2020. Most recently missed 2 weeks in May due to minor hamstring strain. At least a 2 week return to play, but likely longer considering mechanism + his history pic.twitter.com/MomW4Ftt3P

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 25, 2021

BARKING MAD

Trent Barrett may have the best hair in the coaching ranks, but those days are numbered if his players continue to come up with boneheaded plays.

Last week it was Lachlan Lewis doing his best John Cena impersonation. On Sunday, it was Dylan Napa’s turn.

The Bulldogs had just weathered the storm through a try to hard-running Luke Thompson, but they undid all the hard work when Napa attempted a crazy offload from the first play after the restart.

The ball was put down, Thompson was sent to the sin bin minutes later for a late shot on Blayke Brailey, and it was 24-6 by the time he got back on the field.

As bad as they were in the first 40, the Bulldogs showed their typical fight with two tries in three minutes to start the second half that would have left Barrett scratching his head as to why they couldn’t play that way earlier.

“It was a good comeback in the second half, but we shouldn’t have put ourselves in that position,” he said.

“I thought our first half was really poor. In the first half we beat ourselves.”

"RAMPAGING!"

Thompson beats them all 🤯

🏈 #NRLBulldogsSharks
📝 BLOG https://t.co/EyZ11VWU7f
📺 WATCH https://t.co/NuiOyt6J3D
📲 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/2m3N3g5Bwgpic.twitter.com/hIMEWZTgQo

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 25, 2021

THIRD TIME LUCKY

Sione Katoa must have grown up being taught to try, try and try again.

The Sharks winger was denied a spectacular try in the opening few minutes and was robbed of a certain four-pointer when Jesse Ramien dummied to him back on the inside, but brushed the heartbreak aside to dominate the first half.

He eventually opened the scoring thanks to a lovely pass from Johnson, added a second with a dive in the corner that would have earned a 9.8 from the German judge, and then passed back inside to set up Will Kennedy.

It was Katoa’s best game in what’s been an injury-riddled season, while fellow winger Ronaldo Mulitalo was also full of smiles after finishing off a slick move on the left.

Exclusive: Under pressure Shark’s $500k pay cut

— David Riccio

Matt Moylan has accepted his smallest contract in eight years — a 12-month “opportunity” deal that will keep him at the Sharks next season.

One of the highest-paid players at Cronulla over the past four years and prior to that, at his former club Penrith, Moylan said unfinished business and the chance to work under Craig Fitzgibbon swayed him towards accepting a deal worth more than half of his 2021 salary.

A realist, Moylan added the deal — worth just over $340,000 — was understandable given his issues with injuries over the past two seasons.

“There were a couple of things behind staying at Cronulla,” Moylan said.

Matt Moylan has signed a cut-price deal to stay with the Sharks. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“Fitzy (Fitzgibbon) phoned me really early on in the piece when he got the job and just expressed how much he wanted to implement his coaching on me.

“We’ve met and spoken a couple of times since and he’s been so honest throughout the entire process.

“The other thing is, we’ve got a few senior guys leaving this year and the absolute priority is playing finals with them, but next year I’ll need to take an experienced, leadership role with our younger group.

“We’ve got a few 40 to 50-game players in our squad and I really feel like next year, they’ll all be a lot more comfortable in their roles.

“So as an older player, my leadership will only help them.

“Taking the reduction is something I thought was going to happen given my injuries (hamstring and calf), so I’m thankful for this opportunity to bounce back and try and improve as a player.’’

Matt Moylan was swayed by the chance to work under incoming coach Craig Fitzgibbon. Picture: Richard Dobson

Interim Sharks coach Josh Hannay said he supported the club’s re-signing of Moylan - which places the ball-player at the mid to lower-end of salaries for halves across the NRL.

“I’m really happy for the club and Matt that both parties have come to an agreement for next season,” Hannay said.

“Matt has been one of our better performers this season and although injured at the moment, he’s shown a greater durability than in previous years.

“I put this down to Matt having a stronger focus and dedication to his preparation and if he continues to focus on these parts of his game, coupled with his undoubted talent, I believe his best is still to come.”

Moylan is the front-runner to partner Melbourne Storm recruit Nicho Hynes in the halves for the Sharks next year.

Nicho Hynes is a key signing for the Sharks next year. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The 30-year-old and former captain of Penrith said he was excited about working with the young talent.

“He’s shown what he’s been able to do this year when given an opportunity,’’ Moylan said.

“The way the game is going, you’ve seen how you want your halves running the ball and taking the line on - and he definitely brings that.

“He’s been one of the form players all season and to strike an attacking combination together is exciting.’’

Moylan will miss his third successive match against the Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon due to a calf issue.

It is a crucial match for the Sharks who are on the fringe of the top-eight.

Moylan will run on Monday in the hope of playing against Manly next weekend.

“That’s my priority at the moment,’’ Moylan said.

“I just want to get my calf right so that we can make a serious dent on the finals.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Shaun Johnson injured as Cronulla Sharks beat Canterbury Bulldogs 44-24