NZ Warriors have confirmed star Shaun Johnson will not take the field in their first-round playoff clash with defending champions Penrith Panthers on Saturday.
Johnson, 32, flew with the team to Sydney on Thursday to prepare for their first post-season appearance since 2018, amid reports a lower-leg injury had him only 50-50 to face the minor premiership winners.
As the plane landed, the club has confirmed the worst.
"SJ has pulled up at training with calf soreness and is unavailable for Saturday," it posted on Instagram. "He will be available for selection for our next match."
Newshub vision of the team leaving Auckland shows Johnson with a bandage on the troublesome calf.
He and several other frontline players were rested from the regular season finale against the Dolphins last weekend, but even then, Johnson was carrying that bandage, so the niggle has lingered for a while.
When quizzed about his absence from training this week, coach Andrew Webster fended off any concerns, but those fears have now been realised.
"Like all year, it's unfortunate for him, but next man up and we'll be fine," said Webster, as the team arrived at Sydney.
"He's alright, he'll be available for the next game. He hurt his calf, we thought he was going to be OK... he trained yesterday and just pulled up too sore.
"Any finals game is important... if it was a broken hand, you could try and play with it, because it couldn't get any worse, but when it's a soft tissue injury, you have to be careful.
"We just can't risk it."
By finishing fourth on the ladder, the Warriors have earned a playoff life, meaning they can lose to Penrith, but still host a semi-final next week, allowing Johnson another week to recover.
Webster is not ready to reveal Johnson's replacement in the line-up, but with youngster Ronald Volkman not in the travelling squad, he may turn to veteran utility Dylan Walker, who has played mainly off the bench as an impact forward this season.
Walker, 28, has played most of his career in the backs, primarily halves or centres, and partnered Johnson briefly, when Te Maire Martin broke a leg in April.
Such disruption is not ideal for the Warriors, who reached the playoffs with Johnson and Luke Metcalf in the halves. Metcalf has already been ruled out with a hamstring strain.
"[Johnson] is the best player in the comp this year, so we'll miss him, but there are so many players who can stand up and we've done it all year," said Webster. "We've had players unavailable for selection and found a way to win.
"Hopefully, it's a long final series and, on Saturday, we're confident we can still win."
Johnson has enjoyed a breakout season, leading the NRL in try assists and kicking metres, while staking a strong case for the Dally M Medal, as the competition's Player of the Year.
Earlier this week, he scooped the major honours at the Warriors club awards, including the prestigious Simon Mannering Medal.
Join Newshub at 6pm Saturday for live updates of the Warriors v Panthers NRL playoff clash
