Petaia’s Reds career could be over

Jordan Petaia’s Super Rugby Pacific season is over, and so too could be his Queensland Reds career.

The Wallabies excitement machine is set to have surgery after dislocating his shoulder in the Reds’ 31-0 win over the Highlanders last Friday at Suncorp Stadium.

“We’ll get some finalisation of it but it looks like it will be a season-ending (injury),” Queensland coach Les Kiss said on Tuesday.

“Hopefully he’s all right by the end of the season and he can do some more things then (for the Wallabies).”

However, that remains uncertain, as does the off-contract Petaia’s future with the Reds.

He has reportedly been linked not only with moves to clubs in Europe and Japan, but also with a switch of codes, with NRL outfit St George Illawarra a reported potential destination.

“Those are (contract) conversations with RA (Rugby Australia) but we’d like to ensure he stays around,” Kiss said.

“He’s a good rugby player. He’s obviously disappointed (to be injured), but … once he’s got a pathway he can move forward and go from there.”

Kiss said Petaia’s loss was a blow for the Reds, who are also currently without suspended Wallabies pair Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight, as well as injured lock Seru Uru (thumb).

“His (Petaia’s) physical size and power is good, (and) when you couple that with also losing Fraser, Tate, Seru, there are some good players that are out, but I’ll just go back to the weekend (against the Highlanders) – some boys stood up,” the Reds coach said.

Kiss’ men, who have a 50 per cent record after eight matches, face a much tougher task on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium against the second-placed Blues from Auckland.

“I know we’ve got certainly a different challenge this week but the young fellows stood up and did a great job (last Friday),” he said.

Kiss called for the Reds-Blues clash to become an Anzac round “tradition”.

“I think we played them last year in the same fixture and it’d be great to create a similar fixtures against the Blues on a year on basis and create that tradition,” Kiss said.

“It’s not missed on our boys. The research that’s gone into it adds depth and understanding to something bigger than the game.

“It’s going to be a special day and the (commemorative) jersey that’s been created, the boys love it, and I’m sure it’ll be fought in the spirit of respect of the past.”