Waratahs Mr Perpetual Motion Michael Hooper stopped in tracks

AFTER missing just 53 minutes of play in the past five years for the Waratahs, Michael Hooper won’t break the club record for most consecutive games after being ruled out for the rest of the regular season.

AFTER missing just 53 minutes of play in the past five years for the Waratahs, captain Michael Hooper won’t break the club record for most consecutive games after being ruled out for the rest of the regular season.

Hooper’s hamstring strain from last Saturday’s Test is likely to sideline him for four weeks, meaning he won’t appear in the blue jersey again this year unless NSW makes the semi-final.

The injury also robs Hooper of breaking the record of David Lyons, who played 83 consecutive games for the Waratahs — Hooper is on 79.

And his absence means the Tahs will have a new run-on captain for the first time since 2015 when Dave Dennis ran the side before Hooper’s promotion.

Michael Hooper (L) was forced from the field early in the third test between the Wallabies and Ireland. Picture: Getty Images

Bernard Foley is the likely replacement skipper, while fellow candidate Damien Fitzpatrick spoke to Hooper last Sunday.

“We definitely identified that with him being out, it’s going to be a big job for the rest of us to step up particularly on the field,” Fitzpatrick said.

“He’ll be away from the team for a period now but at the same time he’s the type of guy who won’t back off into the distance, he’ll make sure he’s still present within the group and then it’s up to us to take up the slack on the field.”

Hooper has been such a constant for NSW since signing from the Brumbies in 2013, he’s missed just once match, and that was being rested against Western Force that year in preparation for the Wallabies’ series against the British & Irish Lions.

FoxSports Stats revealed that Hooper has missed a total of 53 minutes from his 93 appearances for the Tahs, and his spectacular workrate will be a huge loss for NSW as they seek to clinch the Australian conference in their final three matches.

Damien Fitzpatrick of the Waratahs looks set to retain his starting role despite the strong form of Toly Latu for the Wallabies. Picture: AAP

Will Miller is set to wear Hooper’s No. 7 jersey while Ned Hanigan will likely return to take up a spot at blindside flanker.

NSW take on Melbourne on Friday at AAMI Park, with Rebels skipper Adam Coleman also ruled out of the game after suffering an adductor injury in last Saturday’s defeat to Ireland.

Meanwhile, Tahs forwards coach Simon Cron suggested Fitzpatrick will hold onto the starting hooker’s role despite Tolu Latu’s incredible 40-minute performance off the bench for the Wallabies last Saturday.

“We’ve got a big belief in starters and finishers, in baseball, your finishers are the ones who get paid the most,” Cron said.

“Tolu came on at the end of the game when it mattered and did a really good job.

“For us, it’s probably around what stage of the game do we want Tolu to be playing. It’ll be really around horses for courses.”

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