Jordan Petaia set for lengthy injury lay-off

David Skippers

Reds utility back Jordan Petaia’s Super Rugby season could be over after he suffered a foot injury against the Crusaders at the weekend.

Petaia suffered a lisfranc injury in the Reds’ 22-12 loss to the Crusaders in Brisbane and is set to miss four months of rugby, effectively ending his Super Rugby campaign.

The 18-year-old came off in the 16th minute against the Crusaders after being caught awkwardly in a tackle and surfaced later on the sidelines wearing a moon boot.

However long the teenager is ruled out, his loss is a big blow for the Reds after he showed his potential with an electric outing against the Highlanders in Round Two.

With a four-month time frame, Petaia would be back just in time for the Wallabies season but whether a long sideline stint would harm his chances of a Test call-up remains to be seen.

Petaia is considered a genuine Wallabies contender, having just missed out on a Test debut against Italy on last year’s end-of-year tour, but there will be plenty of competition for outside backs when the World Cup squad is selected in August.

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