Tuivasa-Sheck in doubt for Manly clash

A week off hasn’t done anything to halt the Warriors’ bothersome run of injuries to their key NRL playmakers.

Fullback and captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is back on the doubtful list for Saturday’s clash with Manly in Christchurch because of the ankle injury he suffered in the Warriors’ 30-10 loss to South Sydney in round 12.

While halfback Shaun Johnson is back after missing the past three games, also with an ankle complaint, Tuivasa-Sheck’s healing has been slower than the club had hoped.

He took a limited part in Wednesday’s training session, with his place at the back filled by Peta Hiku.

Coach Stephen Kearney has become used to filling gaps in the Warriors’ spine during their recent patchy run of form.

Tuivasa-Sheck, Johnson, hooker Issac Luke and back-up halfback Mason Lino have missed matches, which has sucked the early-season spring from the Warriors’ step.

“Roger had a run today and didn’t look so good so we just have two wait and see how he pulls up over the next little bit,” Kearney said.

“We’ll try and give him as long as we can but it didn’t look real good for him today.”

Johnson ran freely and will hope to add attacking impetus to a fourth-placed Warriors side who have alternated wins and losses since opening the season with five straight victories.

He shone in his last start, the 26-4 win over Wests Tigers in round nine, and his spark has been missed in heavy home losses to the Sydney Roosters and Rabbitohs, along with a sluggish defeat of Parramatta.

Johnson says he feels no burden to make an impact in what will be his 150th match for the club.

“Definitely no pressure to feel like I have to do anything different or anything like that,” he said.

“It’s a collective thing which we can all take responsibility for.

“We’re working hard. We’ve sort of clarified areas and the style of footy that we want to play because we’ve been a bit patchy over the last month with our results and our performances.”

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