Emerging Reds and Wallabies star Jordan Petaia has been ruled out for the rest of the Super Rugby season due to a shoulder injury.
Petaia was a late withdrawal from Queensland’s side for last week’s loss to the Jaguares having dislocated his shoulder in training, and it has now been confirmed the injury will require surgery and a 20-week layoff.
That timeframe puts Petaia in serious doubt for both Australia’s July Tests and the Rugby Championship immediately afterwards.
It is the second year in a row the 19-year-old has had his Super Rugby season ended so early, having sustained a lisfranc injury in Round 2, 2019. Petaia didn’t play top-level rugby again until making his Wallabies debut at the World Cup later that year.
The youngster was mightily impressive in the tournament, in which he started three games: two on the wing against Uruguay and Georgia, before being thrust into the centres for Australia’s quarter-final defeat to eventual runners-up England.
The news further compounds a luckless start to the Reds’ 2020 campaign. While Brad Thorn’s side have played promisingly in all three games, they currently sit third last on the ladder without a win to their name, in front of only the Bulls and Waratahs courtesy of two bonus points.
In a small silver lining, Hunter Paisami, who replaced Petaia in the Reds lineup following his shoulder injury, put in an excellent performance against the Jaguares, making a number of surging runs, and the 21-year-old is now set for an extended run in Queensland’s starting side.
With Petaia likely out of at least the July Tests against Ireland and Fiji, new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie will have to unveil a new-look centre pairing, with former vice-captain and no.12 Samu Kerevi now playing in Japan.
Petaia’s Reds teammate James O’Connor wore the no.13 jersey at the World Cup prior to the quarter-final, but he’s been used as more of a primary playmaker by Thorn this season, starting Round 1 at inside centre before being shifted to flyhalf for the last two games.
Fellow Wallaby Reece Hodge is another possibility, having spent the first two rounds for the Rebels at 13 before moving to the wing for the side’s first win of the year against the Waratahs, however it’s Brumby Tevita Kuridrani who now seems by far the most likely option to start at outside centre for Rennie’s first Test in charge.
rebel
Roar Guru
No just the one, looks like you could benefit from Albert though. :thumbup:
Gepetto
Guest
There have been plenty of players who attacked the defence like a crash test dummy and are frequently injured:- Flatley got concussions, Perese was often hurt, Coleman ran hard and hurt himself regularly.
Locky
Guest
So ALB was schooled by two Tualagi`s and he still didn`t learn ?. That sux.
pm
Roar Rookie
But i don't think they have "flogged them early" in his case, they've just played him, and then not played him when he got injured. Plenty of younger players than him playing more and getting injured less. Let's just hope it's the last of a bad trot, this injury.
LeftRight
Guest
Correct!
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Mark Loane, Elton Flattley, Mark Ella and JOC, all young starters without early career injury worries. The boys at school are coming out having done more weights training than ever before, but are their dietary backgrounds equal to the task? A trainer in Brisbane used to take apprentice jockeys from Japan but they weren't allowed near a saddle for six months until their calcium intake/bone density had improved. Perhaps the pathway programs should include bone density, ligament and tendon strength testing as part of their protocols before subjecting younger players to high intensity collision situations. Duty of Care?
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
If it wasn't bad luck, Petaia would have no luck at all. I feel for the young man but he needs to be patient, time is on his side and we will see him playing soon enough, maybe NRC late in 2020?
JP
Guest
Brad Thorn has Petaia`s injury on his hands.Thorns coaching career is hanging by a thread but rather than err on the side of safety and look out for Jordans health he did the selfish act by thrusting him straight back into Super Rugby. Parthetic !
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
If it wasn't for Thorn CFS would be long gone. He's definitely been one of the beneficiaries of Thorn as coach. I don't think the Reds should have re-signed him this time round, or last new contract (I assume for 2018-19).
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Are you saying that WITH Petaia they would not have conceded those H2 points? I made my comment more with attack in mind, rather than D. But in any event even the worlds best 13s would have struggled to get Reds across the line last week.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t say Toomua or JOC are failed experiments at 10. Toomua was capable there last year for the WBs, and JOC’s so-called failure in the WB 10 was many moons ago. He is now showing for the Reds that he can play 10, quite well IMHO. I’m a Quade fan but tbh atm I’d pick JOC over Quade.
Scott
Guest
Manage without him. What concede 31 points in the second half ?
rebel
Roar Guru
You are correct, Albert Tualagi was his science teacher at Christchurch Boys' High School.
Azza
Guest
mzilikazi Why is it a backward step ? Who is a better qualified test 10 right now? Don't say Beale Toomua Hodge or JOC as they have been failed experiments in the 10 jersey. QC is eligible isn't he via 60 test rule? The " CHEIKA LAW " or has that been scrapped? Would brand new Wallaby coach Rennie rather have Quade or the rookie Brumbies or Tahs at Wallaby 10 ? I reckon i know who he`d want.
Locky
Guest
Kfar Leinart -Brown? Is he the bloke who was schooled by Tualagi?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How ludicrous to talk about Wallaby availability of a player who in 3 seasons will have played less than 15 Super Rugby games? If Uelese misses 4 games and plays the remaining 12, that's one thing. But this will be 2 seasons in a row Petaia has missed 14 games due to injury.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
It’s Aussie petulance to be impatient. Same for thoroughbreds, owners want an early return and imo over race their 2 year olds. Very rare to see outstanding two year old flourish and dominate as 3 and 4 year olds. Their bones are still gardening at such a young age and over racing them early is the recipe for early retirement or for them generally not to reach their full potential.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Realist. There us always a highlights reel. Sure, kid showed talent, but to be fair it was one game AND over a year ago. Hope he recovers and reaches "potential " but it's not a good start for the lad.
Realist
Guest
Well you obviously missed round 1 last year vs the Highlanders when Petaia cut them to shreds not just in attack but with ferocious defence. I haven’t seen that kind of kiwi commentator love for a player since Chris Latham was passed over by Eddie Jones to their amusement. Jump onto YouTube - I’m pretty sure there’s a highlights reel
Pete
Guest
Sadly he seems very injury prone not a good start to his football career.