Cronulla’s Shaun Johnson to miss extended period with hamstring injury

Cronulla Sharks star Shaun Johnson may have played his last game for the club after confirmation he will have a stint on the sidelines.

Sharks playmaker Shaun Johnson may have played his last game for the club. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Shaun Johnson will need a minor miracle to save his career at the Cronulla Sharks.

Scans have revealed the star halfback is set to miss four to eight weeks after suffering a serious hamstring injury in the win over the Bulldogs on Sunday.

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Fortunately Johnson will avoid surgery but he will need a miraculous recovery if he is any hope to join Cronulla in finals action — if the Sharks make the top eight.

Cronulla is currently seventh on the NRL ladder, but on equal points with the St George Illawarra Dragons (eighth) and Canberra Raiders (ninth).

There are six games remaining in the home and away season so Johnson will be racing the clock to be fit should the Sharks qualify for the finals.

It is highly likely Johnson has played his last game for the Sharks after he announced last month he would be returning to the New Zealand Warriors from next season.

Shaun Johnson is expected to miss 4-8 weeks after scans revealed a “serious” hamstring injury (via @DaveRic1). Thankfully v rare for hamstring tears to require surgery, likely a moderate-high grade strain here. Wide recovery range no surprise considering Johnson’s injury history

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 27, 2021

He made 162 appearances for the Warriors over eight seasons, before linking up with Cronulla in 2019, where he has played 44 games.

Johnson’s injury adds to a mounting toll at Cronulla, with Mawene Hiroti to undergo surgery on a fractured hand.

The Sharks will likely have to contend without Shaun Johnson for the rest of the regular season. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Hiroti suffered the injury against the Bulldogs and with a plate set to be inserted into his hand will miss the next two weeks.

Promising backrower Teig Wilton (hamstring) is also out for the next fortnight.

Braydon Trindall and Connor Tracey will be asked to steer Cronulla against Manly on Sunday.

However in some positive injury news, star Matt Moylan has been named in an extended reserves list and will be given every chance to prove his fitness as he makes his way back from a calf injury.