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The Waratahs’ hopes of making a late season surge to make the top eight have copped a blow, with hooker Julian Heaven the latest front-rower to go down.
He isn’t the only one who will miss Saturday evening’s local derby against Stephen Larkham’s Brumbies, with Max Jorgensen also set to miss the rest of the Super Rugby season following a hamstring injury suffered in the Shute Shield.
Jorgensen, who was rotated out of the Waratahs’ side for their ugly loss to the Hurricanes on Friday night, went down in the 44th minute for Randwick during their 20-19 loss to Northern Suburbs at North Sydney Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Waratahs and Randwick fullback Max Jorgensen was forced off early against Northern Suburbs in the Shute Shield. (Photo by Pete Dovgan/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Before then the 19-year-old, who signed a two-extension to stay with the Waratahs in late March, looked sprightly in his first showing for the Galloping Greens.
He regularly jumped into first-receiver and was a constant threat with ball in hand.
But the Wallaby-in-waiting pulled up lame after breaking the line after storming onto a lovely inside ball from Andrew Deegan.
At least Waratahs coach Darren Coleman has back three cover, with Mark Nawaqanitawase likely to stay at fullback alongside Triston Reilly and Dylan Pietsch.
Whether he has to go to the well in the midfield remains to be seen, with Test centres Lalakai Foketi (knee) and Izaia Perese (back) racing the clock to be fit after picking up injuries during their 41-12 loss in Wellington.
With Joey Walton out injured for at least another week, Coleman could turn to Mosese Tuipulotu and Harry Wilson, who will both leave the Waratahs at season’s end, to fill the void.
The unfolding injury crisis is even worse up front, with Heaven suffering a shoulder injury. He was replaced in the 49th minute.
Julian Heaven’s Super Rugby season is over. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
He is the fourth hooker to be ruled out for the remainder of the season following injuries to incumbent Wallabies captain Dave Porecki (Achilles), Mahe Vailanu (knee) and Theo Fourie (foot).
Heaven’s injury will see Coleman turn to Jay Fonokalafi to fill the void.
It’s an extraordinary turn of events for the Tongan concreter, who came close to hanging up the boots last year but pushed for another season in 2024.
Now, he’s gone from the work site to the Waratahs’ starting side in the space of a couple of months.
The Gordon hooker will be joined by another from the Shute Shield this weekend.
“I am crying, don’t worry,” Coleman told the SMH.
“We literally just spent five weeks getting Jules up to speed and he was starting to hold his own at set-piece. Now we have to bring in another guy [as a back-up], and we are stretching everyone out in the scrum.”
“It is frustrating. Jay will start now and we will bring in another club guy, we are working through that now.”
Darren Coleman is set to turn to Jay Fonokalafi after yet another injury in the hooker position. (Photo by Pete Dovgan/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The situation with the props isn’t much better, with Harry Johnson-Holmes and Hayden Thompson-Stringer the only two of seven contracted props left standings.
In better news, the Waratahs are expected to welcome back Jed Holloway (concussion) and Ned Hanigan (neck) back as they prepare to keep their season alive when they host the Wallaby-laden Brumbies side.
Five points out of the finals mix, the Waratahs have reached the point of must-win territory to have any chance of scrapping into the knockout stage.
After failing to turn up at the start gate against the Hurricanes on Friday, Coleman said in his post-match interview that he wanted the Waratahs to embrace the feeling of hurt before turning their attention to the Brumbies on Saturday in Sydney.
“I believe you have to hurt after a loss,” Coleman said.
“We’re well aware of what the next four weeks holds. We’ll definitely have a positive mindset.
“The beauty of the comp is we have four games to go. We win those four and we’re in the play-offs. Although I am hurting at the moment – and the team is as well – we will dust ourselves off and give it a shake on the way home.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.