Reds rocked by triple injury blow as Liam Gill, Chris Feauai-Sautia and Eddie Quirk all sidelined

THE Queensland Reds’ horror season continues with three key players ruled out of Sunday’s clash with the Crusaders — and beyond.

Liam Gill injured his calf against the Blues at Eden Park.

THE Reds’ poor season now appears cursed with Queensland losing three of their star players to injury.

The damage bill is highlighted by a season-ending dislocated shoulder to 20-year-old back Chris Feauai-Sautia.

Feauai-Sautia will miss six months of rugby when he undergoes surgery on the shoulder injured in the Reds’ loss to the Blues last week.

His Wallabies hopes this year are also finished.

Key forwards Liam Gill and Eddie Quirk will each miss at least two weeks of Super Rugby.

Losing two of their backrowers is a major blow for the Reds, who on Sunday clash with a Crusaders team featuring No.7 legend Richie McCaw.

Gill strained his calf against the Blues while Quirk suffered a rib injury in the horror loss.

Liam Gill injured his calf against the Blues at Eden Park.

The Reds hospital ward now includes five regular starters with Aidan Tour and Lachie Turner still unavailable while prop James Slipper is suspended for three weeks.

There is some positive news for the Reds with winger Dom Shipperley to return from injury at Suncorp Stadium this Sunday.

Feauai-Sautia’s surgery is set to give young Fijian 20-year-old Samu Kerevi a chance off the bench.

“It is disappointing to lose the three boys,” Graham said.

“Eddie (Quirk) has started every game this season and had been very good at the tackle and the contest.

“Liam had just returned from a five-week lay-off with a hamstring injury and I thought he was very good in the 50 minutes he played last weekend.

“We are fortunate that both Beau (Robinson) and Curtis (Browning) have been involved every week in the match squad. We also have Simmo (Rob Simmons) and Dave McDuling who can play at blindside flanker.

“Chris dislocated his shoulder when diving for a ball. The scans revealed a tear and the medical team believe the best course of action is a complete reconstruction.”

The Reds are 13th on the Super Rugby ladder, with the Stormers and Cheetahs just one competition point behind them.

The Crusaders are coming off a dominant 40-20 victory over last year’s grand finalists ACT Brumbies.

Prop Ben Daley gets a chance to start due to Slipper’s suspension and said pride was Queensland’s motivating factor now their finals hopes were all but extinguished.

“We need to get pride back in the Reds jersey,” he said.

“We have lacked consistency in certain areas of our game. We have had close losses, which is very disappointing.

“If we got those wins it would have been a very different season.”

Originally published as Reds rocked by triple injury blow as Liam Gill, Chris Feauai-Sautia and Eddie Quirk all sidelined