The Roosters claimed a 34-18 win, and a shocking injury toll made it an awful night for the Sharks, who appeared to suffer three serious injuries with Johnson believed to have ruptured his achilles tendon. Video / Sky Sport / Fox League
Former New Zealand Warrior and current Cronulla Sharks star Shaun Johnson is set for a long stint on the sidelines after rupturing his achilles tendon while playing against the Sydney Roosters last night.
The Roosters claimed a 34-18 win, and a shocking injury toll made it an awful night for the Sharks, who suffered two serious injuries with Johnson rupturing his achilles tendon, and Royce Hunt appearing to rupture his patella.
The Sharks today confirmed Johnson's injury.
"The Sharks can confirm star five eighth Shaun Johnson has suffered an achilles rupture and is scheduled to see a surgeon tomorrow," the club said in a statement.
"He now faces a long recovery and rehabilitation process following surgery to repair the injury."
The standard recovery time for an achilles injury is five-to-eight months.
Confirmation from the Sharks of a ruptured achilles tendon for Shaun Johnson. Surgery & 5-8 months recovery ahead (6 months til Rd1 2021). Is the 3rd achilles rupture in the NRL this season after appearing to have none since 2017. Wish Johnson the best with surgery & recovery pic.twitter.com/Eh92Oq9Zch
Shaun Johnson went down injured. Photo / Screengrab
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 will require months of rehab to get back on the field.
"Oh wow, that's as bad as it gets," commentator Greg Alexander said.
Fellow commentator Andrew 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 his season is now over, despite the Sharks making the finals.
Johnson was joined by Hunt with a ruptured patella tendon, while Josh Dugan soldiered on with a knee injury of his own for the undermanned Sharks.
Shaun Johnson of the Sharks leaves the field injured as Sonny Bill Williams of the Roosters looks on. Photo / Getty
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."
That Luke 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.
