We're sisters: EJ and CJ ready to lead Sharks' title push

Ellie Johnston and Caitlan Johnston-Green are forming a fearsome combination giving rise to the Sharks being able to boast they have one of the best front rows in the NRLW. 

The pair are both Australia and NSW Origin forwards and have another Jillaroos representative in Quincy Dodd at hooker. 

“CJ and I are very similar players and we haven’t yet had a full season playing next to each other,” Johnston said. 

“But I can tell at training how we roll off each other, that the energy and understanding is there. 

“It’s shaping into a really nice partnership and CJ and I are really good friends as well. We bring that strong relationship as well. 

“We not sisters but we are ‘sisters’ if you know what I mean. We’re both big and blonde and energetic.” 

Both love coming off the back fence when taking the ball up and don't have too long to wait now with the Sharks opening the 2026 season against the Knights at Ocean Protect Stadium on Thursday night. 

Johnston-Green won two premierships with Newcastle and it was against her old club last year that she fractured her eye socket ending her 2025 after just three games. She had returned to Cronulla mid-season three months after giving birth to daughter Amarah. 

Pregnancy combined with a couple of knee and back injuries has limited Johnston-Green’s time on the field of late. 

“I’ve been unfortunate the last couple of years with injuries and then obviously falling pregnant, and then I smashed my eye,” she said. 

“But I’ve done a lot of prep in the pre-season to make myself as fit and ready as I can. I just want to be able to have a strong and consistent season this year.” 

And Johnston-Green knows her partnership with Johnston will go a long way to delivering that. 

“For Ellie she’s very dominant in her attack – a very strong runner. She’s very hard to get on the ground and I know I always struggled playing against her,” Johnston-Green said. 

“She’s just a beast in attack and defence. She’s hard to avoid on the field and when she gets you, she gets you good. 

“I’m so excited to play with Ellie and not against her. I only got a handful of games last year so that’s why I’m looking forward so much to this year.” 

The feeling is mutual for Johnston, who is the reigning Dally M Prop of the Year. 

The 25-year-old is also benefiting from a second year in the NSW Blues team after being on the extended bench for two series. 

“I kind of found my groove this year. I knew what to expect this year and what was expected of me in Origin,” Johnston said. 

“I felt my game improved from last year and I was comfortable with the role I played.” 

After the NRLW season is complete both women have a chance to represent Australia at the World Cup.

“This year that’s my end goal,” said Johnston-Green, who savoured World Cup glory in 2022 with the Jillaroos.

“But my main focus is the Sharks. I would love to be in that Australian team. 

“I missed Origin this year and that’s given me the hunger to come back to clubland and show why I should be picked in the green-and-gold.”