Already reeling from the suspensions of Wallabies pair Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight, the Queensland Reds have suffered a further blow, with talented lock Seru Uru to be sidelined for up to six weeks with a broken thumb.
Reds coach Les Kiss revealed on Tuesday that Uru had surgery on his thumb on Monday night.
“Unfortunately, Seru has had a thumb injury … he’s going to be (out for) four to six weeks,” Kiss said.
The Reds also discovered on Monday night that co-captain McDermott and flanker McReight had both been suspended for three games by Super Rugby’s foul play review committee following incidents in Queensland’s shock 17-14 loss to Moana Pasifika in Whangarei last Friday.
Half-back McDermott received a red card for striking Irie Papuni with a swinging arm while bringing him to ground in a tackle, while McReight was also sent off for a high tackle on William Havili.
However, McReight’s ban is expected to be reduced to two matches if he successfully completes World Rugby’s “head contact coaching intervention” process.
McDermott’s charge reportedly was worth a six-match suspension, but the punishment was halved for his early guilty plea, remorse and a previously exemplary disciplinary record.
Kiss said McDermott’s act was “uncharacteristic”.
“He’s ridden that hard, as he would. There’s a situation there that’s now been dealt with,” the Reds coach said.
“We’ll move on. Tate will add value around the place just like other players who are injured. He’ll work his way back, and do the things that he can off the pitch now.”
Kalani Thomas is set to replace McDermott at halfback for Queensland’s clash with the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night when the Reds will bid to avoid a fourth successive Super Rugby Pacific defeat.
John Bryant looms as McReight’s replacement, while Irishman Cormac Daly heads the list of contenders to fill the void left by Uru.
“We had a massive surge at the beginning of the year. There was a great expectation that we put on ourselves and we met that,” Kiss said.
“Now there’s a different expectation about how we can respond to this. It’s just part of the journey.”