Since returning to the Sharks in their premiership-winning season of 2016, half back Chad Townsend has yet to miss a game.
Townsend has suited up for 107 straight Sharks games, make that 108 in the NRL when added to a final round match for the New Zealand Warriors in 2015, however that streak is set to come to and end this weekend when the Cronulla side travels to Townsville.
It has been an outstanding run for the local Sharks junior, with a minor hamstring issue seeing Townsend’s name missing from this week’s team sheet.
Since John Morris took over as head coach at the start of the 2019 season Townsend has been in the number seven jersey in every game since, but with the long flight to North Queensland for the Cowboys clash on Saturday night something of a factor, the coach has been forced into making a change in the Sharks halves.
“Chad has some hamstring tightness and was close to being good to go this week but the decision was made to not risk him. We are hopeful it will only be a week out,” Morris said.
Matt Moylan, who has overcome some injury concerns of his own, will partner Shaun Johnson in the Sharks halves.
In other injury news, Andrew Fifita has a calf complaint, one which kept him sidelined last weekend when his team took on the Tigers, with the Sharks prop again left out of the 21-man squad for the game at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Club medical staff report that both are likely to be available for the round five match-up against the Dragons the following week.
The Sharks were reporting no other injury concerns for those named in this week’s 21-man squad.