Cronulla has confirmed star recruit Shaun Johnson will miss up to a month of footy with a hamstring strain.
Johnson copped the injury in the 21st minute of his side's defeat to the Broncos in Brisbane on Saturday night.
The 29-year-old was in clear discomfort and was helped off the field, where he was later seen in the sheds on his phone, likely contacting family.
Watch the incident in the player below.
Cronulla coach John Morris later said the club was holding its breath over the health of its star as the Sharks bear the brunt of a 'hospital-ward' situation.
On Monday, the club confirmed the five-eighth's expected layoff after Johnson underwent scans, which revealed the strain.
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There was better news for Josh Dugan, who missed Saturday's game altogether after he was a late withdrawal.
Dugan also cited a hamstring complaint, but scans revealed his injury was not as bad as first thought.
However, the former represenatative back is facing a race against time to be fit for Friday night's game against Melbourne.
Matt Moylan's hamstring also remains problematic, but the club said in a statement that he has been "recovering slowly but strongly" with at least two more weeks on the sidelines expected.
The scans are in
— Cronulla Sharks FC (@Cronulla_Sharks) April 29, 2019
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