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Shaun Johnson, the Warriors’ most important player during their 2023 revival, is in doubt to face Penrith in Saturday’s finals showdown.
The halfback is under an injury cloud, according to a report in the NZ Herald, due to a lower leg injury.
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The Warriors have finally reached the post-season after a five-year absence and have a massive opportunity in Saturday’s qualifying final.
The winner of that match gets a week off and a home preliminary final, which would be an enormous advantage to the New Zealand outfit.
But a difficult task against the two-time defending premiers would become Herculean without Johnson, who has scored eight tries and kicked 71 goals across 23 matches this season.
His current issue is believed to be a new knock, not related to a thigh strain that had limited him over the past month or so.
It’s understood Johnson, who is the favourite for this year’s Dally M Medal, has only had a limited role in training this week.
The 32-year-old was on the flight to Sydney on Thursday afternoon and the club will give him every chance to prove he can feature against Penrith.
Having earned the crucial second chance through a top-four finish on the ladder, however, the Warriors may err on the side of caution and rest him for the club’s following match.
Fresh off being named the Warriors’ player of the season this week, Johnson’s absence will be devastating to the Kiwi outfit.
It follows the recent hamstring injury to young five-eighth Luke Metcalf, who is likely done for the season.
Ronald Volkman is on standby for Johnson, the 21-year-old featuring against the Dolphins last weekend.
Originally published as Warriors hit with terrible news over star halfback Shaun Johnson
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