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Reds hope man-of-the-match midfielder can help break their 2020 duck
By Online Editors
The Super Rugby emergence of Hunter Paisami and return of Fraser McReight has lifted the mood at the Queensland Reds as they battle with the loss of Jordan Petaia to another season-ending injury.
Teenage Wallabies centre Petaia dislocated his shoulder at training in Argentina last week and missed the clash with the Jaguares.
Scans this week revealed the 19-year-old will require surgery and a 20-week lay-off.
While still a massive blow for the Reds and Australia, Paisami's player of the match performance in Buenos Aires has raised expectations and allowed Brad Thorn the luxury of naming an unchanged line-up for Saturday's home opener against the Sunwolves.
The Reds (0-3) will shuffle their bench though, with Junior Wallabies back-rower Fraser McReight (thumb) back from injury while fiery prop Harry Hoopert (neck) and Samoan halfback Scott Malolua have also been added to the reserves.
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Plucked from Sydney club rugby as an injury replacement for hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Eastwood product Ed Craig could also make his Super Rugby debut off the bench on Saturday night.
James O'Connor was named at No.10 for the third-straight game and Jock Campbell retained at fullback, with utility backs Isaac Lucas and Bryce Hegarty remaining on the bench.
Assistant coach Peter Ryan said it was tough to swallow the news of Petaia's latest setback but that the Reds had the depth to cope.
"Everyone just feels for his own well-being ... two years in a row he's missed a season and unfortunately for him it was an injury in training," Ryan said.
"You can live with it more as a player when you get an injury in-game, but in training, it's just not supposed to happen.
"But for certain (we have the depth); Hunter filled into that position, did an admirable job, got player's player against the Jaguares in a very physical game."
The Sunwolves (1-1) were thumped by the Chiefs last weekend but upset the Melbourne Rebels at home in the first week of the season and will keep the Reds on their toes.
Queensland: Jock Campbell, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Hunter Paisami, Hamish Stewart, Henry Speight, James O'Connor, Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright (c), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Blyth, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Alex Mafi, JP Smith. Reserves: Ed Craig, Harry Hoopert, Josh Nasser, Harry Hockings, Fraser McReight – Brothers, Scott Malolua, Isaac Lucas, Bryce Hegarty.
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Latest Comments
There is a major story unfolding around Gleeson's bar in Booterstown, South Dublin City last night. Beaudy Barrett, DMac and Cody Taylor were there. DMac was supposed to be on the Guinness 0.0 but lets just say it didn't turn out that way.
Hours later, Dmac out cold, head on the table with a long stallagtite of flem and spittle rising and falling with his breathing. There is a video apparently.
The barman barred a staggering Taylor from any more Guinness but Taylor kept pushing past him, pulled a seat up to the Guinness tap and personally pulled himself pints, claiming it was 'celebrity pint pulls mate'.
One of these celebrity pint pulls made a local paper but it's only a matter of time before the real context comes out. Dmac is out of the team for Friday due to breaking 'internal standards', Sititi starting at 10.
Go to commentsNow that made me laugh bull!
I tell you what though, the head knock from Kriel on Hugh jones in the wc that didn’t result in any card was a real mystery with the way things are now.
Also suspect the Boks will be pretty well motivated by glasgows antics in stellenbosch last week and loftus in June…
Should be a cracker hopefully!
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