PAUL Johnson's Super League season has been brought to an abrupt end as Wigan Warriors count the cost of last week's Test match writes Chris Hall

The Great Britain ace suffered wrist ligament damage in the crushing defeat to Australia in Sydney and will be ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery this weekend.

And he will not be alone on the treatment table as fellow internationals Terry O'Connor, foot, Andy Farrell, groin and Kris Radlinski, torn pectoral, are all certain absentees from the squad travelling to Castleford on Saturday night.

Add to that the lingering injuries to Brett Dallas, David Hodgson, Julian O'Neill and Danny Sculthorpe and coach Stuart Raper is facing the biggest squad crisis of his Wigan career.

But it is the blow to Johnson which has disappointed him most after a promising first half-season from the powerful three-quarter.

"Paul has had a few injuries in the last few years and he just can't get any consistency until he gets a clear run," said Raper.

"It's a real shame for him because he's been playing some reasonable footy and now he'll have to sit out the rest of the season.

"He's just one of a heap of injuries we have to get over and we are really paying the price for doing the right thing and trying to support the international game.

"The injury to Julian O'Neill was a bit bizarre. He picked it up in the game against Halifax when his arm slipped up in the tackle and somehow knocked out Brett Goldspink's tooth.

"The cut in his arm then became infected and he was on a drip in hospital last week because of it.

"He's recovering okay but he's still got a nasty gash and he is 99 per cent sure to miss the next game."

The mountainous injury problems will open the door for the usual crop of young fringe players, including Sean O'Loughlin, Mark Smith, Martin Aspinwall and Luke Robinson.

But Great Britain academy aces Andrew Crabtree and Shaun Briscoe can also expect a call as Raper sends an enthusiastic but inexperienced squad into The Jungle.

"A lot of kids are going to get a game and a few guys are going to have to play out of position because I'm really short of outside backs but I have been really impressed with the positive attitude from everyone in training," said Raper.