Shaun Johnson ruptures Achilles in horrific moment against Roosters

The Cronulla Sharks are reeling after three horror injuries but coach John Morris has taken aim at officials after the game didn’t stop.

Horrible scenes for Shaun Johnson and the Sharks.

The Sydney Roosters have claimed a 34-18 win over the Cronulla Sharks but a shocking injury toll has made it an awful night for the men from the Shire.

The Sharks appeared to suffer three serious injuries with Shaun Johnson believed to have ruptured his achilles tendon, Royce Hunt rupturing his patella and Josh Dugan with a serious seeming knee injury.

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On the night where Roosters star Mitchell Aubusson celebrated his 303rd cap, breaking the club record, with the veteran scoring twice from the centres.

It was a fitting celebration for Aubusson‘s milestone with his mother, wife, siblings and children at the SCG to watch him make club history.

He was given a guard of honour by his teammates with only those in the Roosters‘ bubble able to join in the guard.

The Roosters got off to a quick start through Aubusson but the Sharks hit straight back.

But the defending champs took a 24-12 lead to the break.

Early in the second half, the Sharks were looking to put some pressure on before disaster struck.

Johnson was running as a first receiver and just seemed to fall to the ground and immediately clutching his leg.

Shaun Johnson has suffered a horrific injury.

Greg Alexander said in commentary it was lucky it wasn‘t his knee and said it could have been a broken leg.

Johnson left the ground smiling, although grimacing, giving the crowd a wave and thumbs up.

But news soon came down that it was feared Johnson had snapped his achilles tendon, which could require months of rehab to get back on the field.

“Oh wow, that‘s as bad as it gets,” Alexander said.

Voss laid the injury bare.

“The snapped achilles tendon, to describe it graphically, the calf muscle tears away and rolls up like a rubber band to the back of the knee,” he said.

It was a horrible blow for the Sharks with Alexander later describing the Sharks as “missing Johnson badly” in attack, as the Roosters ran away with a 34-18 win.

Johnson was the NRL‘s try assist leader with 22 but it appears his season is already over, despite the Sharks making the finals.

Johnson was joined by Royce Hunt with a ruptured patella tendon, while Josh Dugan soldiered on with a knee injury of his own for the undermanned Sharks.

Sharks coach John Morris was furious about the Dugan injury with the Roosters scoring down Dugan‘s wing after the referee didn’t stop the game.

“Play needed to be stopped there, he needed attention on the field,” Morris said.

“They scored exactly Josh should have been in the defensive line down the left edge and Josh was laying on the ground and play was allowed to go on for a full set.

“I felt it was a pretty ordinary look for our game to play on while a guy is injured like that.”

Morris said the officials said they didn’t hear the trainer, but the Sharks coach countered that the orange shirt “went straight to him”.

He added he would go to NRL head of football Graham Annesley to clarify the interpretation.

“Clearly when someone can’t get to their feet and the doctor’s got to go onto the field to check him, that should be play stopped,” he said, adding the try the other way ruined his side’s momentum in a key moment of the game.

The Keary try made it 28-12, and while the Sharks hit back with a try through Braden Hamlin-Uele, Joseph Manu finished off the game with a try nine minutes from time.

Post-game, the Roosters celebrated Aubusson‘s record-breaking match with a presentation.

A family photo in the age of COVID as Aubusson celebrates his Roosters record.

In a sign of the COVID restrictions, Aubusson had to keep 1.5m away from his family post game but took socially distanced photos with them.

It‘s been a tough year for Aubusson, who’s father also died during the season, with the star being given some time off during the season.

“Obviously I’m really proud to have represented this club 303 times,” Aubusson said.

“That standing ovation as I came out will be something that I’ll never forget, it was a really special moment in my career.

“It’s been a really tough year for my family and myself, and the club’s been really good to me, they rallied around me and gave me the time I needed.

“Tonight all my family was here … just really proud they can all be together and celebrate a good night tonight.

“I definitely think the old man was looking after me tonight.”