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Off-contract Jordan Petaia ‘likely’ set for season-ending shoulder surgery
By AAP
Jordan Petaia may have played his last game of rugby union, with the off-contract Queensland Reds and Wallabies back likely needing season-ending shoulder surgery.
The two-time World Cup talent was injured in Friday's defeat of the Highlanders, Reds coach Les Kiss on Tuesday confirming he was set to go under the knife.
"Likely surgery ... likely be out for the season," Kiss said ahead of Saturday's clash with the top-of-the-table Blues.
"He's disappointed. It's a blow, without a doubt, a player of his calibre and the type of game he brings.
"Couple that with (the suspended) Fraser (McReight), Tate (McDermott), Seru (Uru, thumb) ... some good players unavailable."
It's Petaia's second season-ending shoulder injury. He also suffered a long-term foot injury and battled thigh, hamstring and concussion setbacks in a six-year professional career.
The 31-Test Wallaby is off contract beyond this season and has been linked to an NRL move to St George Illawarra, as well as rugby moves to Japan and Europe.
"Those are conversations with RA, but we'd like to ensure he stays around. I don't think it complicates anything in my head," Kiss said of retaining Petaia.
"He's a good rugby player ... hopefully he's all right by the end of the season and could do some more things then."
Meanwhile, Kiss said Josh Flook was a chance to play the Blues as he manages his own "acute" shoulder injury that saw him miss last week's 31-0 victory.
And influential flanker Fraser McReight has had his suspension for a high tackle reduced from three to two weeks after completing World Rugby's coaching mitigation course.
That means the Wallabies back-rower will be available for next week's clash with the Crusaders.
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i think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.
Go to commentsSmith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.
Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?
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