The Sharks are likely to be without premiership winning half back Chad Townsend for an extended period after scans revealed a grade two calf strain suffered in the closing moments of the win over the Dragons.
Townsend, who had played in excess of 100 games straight before missing the round four match against the Cowboys, is expected to be sidelined for around four to six weeks.
Anointed as the likely replacement by coach John Morris at his post-match press conference on Saturday night, local junior Connor Tracey is in line to come into the Sharks side as Townsend’s replacement.
Tracey has been playing the role of bench utility for the Sharks during the 2020 season but has come through the junior ranks primarily as a half back or five eighth.
Also stemming from the game against the Dragons, in some positive news, the injury suffered by Jesse Ramien isn’t as bad as first thought, with the Sharks centre to be further assessed tomorrow ahead of the squad being announced for his team’s next assignment, their round 12 match in Brisbane.
Ramien experienced hamstring tightness in the first half of the Sharks win at Kogarah, with the worst-case scenario appearing to be a week on the sidelines.
In other injury news, Josh Dugan and Scott Sorensen will be monitored over the next couple of days before decisions are made as to their availability this Friday night. Dugan (hamstring) and Sorensen (knee) missed the game against the Dragons.
As for Matt Moylan and Andrew Fifita, their recovery and rehabilitation from hamstring issues continues, with a return date yet to be confirmed.
Fifita has also had minor finger surgery which could see him racing the clock to be fit for his originally proposed return of round 13.
