A ruptured Achilles tendon is expected to cause Kiwi star Shaun Johnson to be sidelined for at least the first two months of New Zealand’s 2021 NRL campaign. Johnson last month underwent surgery following a serious injury sustained during the penultimate round of the regular NRL season played between the Sharks and the Roosters.
The anticipated away-time of at least nine months is obviously a massive blow for player and team, with Johnson having played a perfectly consistent season leading up to the unfortunate injury. What’s more, he was a leading factor in Cronulla qualifying for the finals in the first place. In only 16 games played, he managed to lead the competition with a phenomenal 23 try assists.
Johnson will return home to spend time with his family in New Zealand before departing for Australia for the new pre-season starting November 25.
A double-whammy for the Sharks is that Johnson won’t be the only leading man spending an extended period of time recovering on the sidelines. Star prop Royce Hunt’s ruptured patella – weirdly sustained in the same game as the one that saw Johnson make his forced exit – will likely see him (Hunt) benched for the exact same period of time as his fellow Cronullan.
A third blow, though not quite as devastating in terms of timespan, is that of a shoulder injury sustained by second-rower Siosifa Talakai. Recent surgery will probably see him sitting out of at least the first few rounds of the 2021 NRL season.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Betway |  | 5/5 | Up to $60 NZD | Bet now Review |
More About Trent Wilson
Trent Wilson is OnlineBetting.nz’s resident sports news expert. He draws on his extensive sporting knowledge, his qualification in sports management and his passion for betting to provide the latest, most up to date information on sporting events in New Zealand and across the globe. Trent is a veritable treasure trove of sports information and has been betting online for several years. He prides himself in keeping his readers informed, and in always offering an unbiased standpoint that reflects exactly what’s going on in the sports world.
View Posts - Visit WebsiteYou May Also Like:
All Blacks Apologise For Careless Post
New Zealand’s All Blacks have now issued an apology for a controversial social media post made in support of International Women’s Day. The post applauded the wives of the team’s players for their support, but at the same time also featured a player who had assaulted his partner. An international ….
SA Set To Join Six Nations After 2025
The South African Springboks are reportedly open to joining the Six Nations after 2025 – this as a major overhaul of the global rugby calendar remains in motion. Brokers of the game are due to meet next month in order to finalise plans for a biennial global competition, and it ….
Kevin Gourdon Announces Early Retirement
France forward Kevin Gourdon has been forced into early retirement by a heart problem. Gourdon, who is 31, once accused the All Blacks of cheating. He’s known to have played some of his best rugby against New Zealand. According to the Frenchman, who confirmed his condition and decision to retire ….
Glenn Moore Says He Welcomes Inquiry
Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore has at long last broken his silence following serious allegations made by Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate. According to the player, she had suffered a serious mental breakdown as a direct result of comments made by Moore during last moth’s norther tour. Ngata-Aerengamate’s allegations include that of ….
Former Tonga Halfback Taniela Moa Dies
Former Tonga and Blues halfback Taniela Moa has died. He was only 36 and is understood to have died after a sudden medical event on Thursday morning. Born in Tonga, Taniela played 58 matches for his province between 2005 and the present day, while also helping his team to two ….