Jordan Petaia unlikely starter for Queensland following father’s death

The sudden death on Wednesday night of Jordan Petaia’s father has thrown a possible cloud over his availability.

Jordan Petaia’s first starting role of the season could be put on hold after the death of his father, Tielu, on Wednesday. Picture: QRU/Brendan Hertel

The sudden death on Wednesday night of Jordan Petaia’s father has thrown a cloud over the involvement of the 20-year-old Queensland and Wallabies sensation in Saturday night’s Super Rugby AU clash with New South Wales at the SCG.

Petaia made a 57-minute cameo off the bench for the Reds against the Brumbies last weekend in his return to football after spending six months on the sideline recuperating from shoulder surgery. Even new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie had cause on Friday to comment on how impressively he had played.

But although the Reds on Thursday named him on the right wing, taking over from the injured Chris Feauai-Sautia, it was with no certainty that he would play after his father, Tielu, died of an apparent heart attack the previous night. He had been his son’s most ardent fan, venturing to Japan last year to see Jordan turn on star performances in his three World Cup Tests.

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The Reds will travel by charter flight to Sydney today, which gives Petaia until about lunchtime to decide if he will join his teammates on the flight south. But with Queensland having closed its borders to NSW, forcing the Reds back into a “clean” bubble, another factor he might have to consider is that, if he plays, he may not be permitted to go to the funeral on his return to Brisbane.

It is devastating news for Petaia, himself, and also for the Reds, with Lukhan Salakai-Loto and former lock Izack Rodda both having lost their fathers in recent years. No one from the Queensland Rugby Union would comment on the situation or on possible replacements, but it would seem, now that utility back Jack Hardy has made his recovery from the severe knee injury which kept him sidelined for months, he would surely come into the side in place of Petaia if required.

The Waratahs, meanwhile, have their own injury worries, with captain Rob Simmons ruled out of the match against his former Queensland teammates after failing a fitness test on Friday on his injured ribs. Significantly, it will mean Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper will return to the captaincy of the Waratahs, a position he had relinquished at the start of the season to give himself a chance to freshen up.

It should not make much of a difference as Simmons regularly consulted with him on-field. Still, it will give Rennie a chance to assess Hooper’s captaincy credentials before he makes his call on who will lead the Wallabies.

Tom Staniforth has been brought into the second-row vacancy in place of Simmons, with Jed Holloway coming on to the bench.

All indications are that this is a far more formidable NSW side than coach Rob Penney fielded in the opening round of Super Rugby AU five weeks ago. Where the team beaten 32-26 was overflowing with former youngsters, this time there will be only two – five-eighth Will Harrison and winger Jack Ramm – in the starting team.

Certainly that is the sort of mix NSW would have wanted to surround Harrison with while he is still learning the knack of playing Super Rugby. Having Wallabies halfback Jake Gordon inside him and another well-travelled Test player in Karmichael Hunt outside him, feeding him information, should allow Harrison to settle quickly into the playmaking role.

Fullback Jack Maddocks played brilliantly in the first round clash in Brisbane, the diamonds of his game on glittering display. Since then, however, it has been largely “rocks” for the talented young Wallaby and he will look to revive his early July form.

The Reds have a miserable record at the SCG and, while their players would normally appreciate the chance to see the legendary spinner’s wicket up close, chances are they won’t greatly appreciate being dumped on it. The full centre wicket block is intact and is every chance of being slippery underfoot tonight, either from rain or heavy dew.

One player not likely to complain is Zane Nonggorr, the back-up Reds tight-head set to make his debut tonight if Taniela Tupou is not pushed out the full 80 minutes, which lately has become his usual workshift. Still, if the circumstances permit, coach Brad Thorn will be delighted to pitch him into the fray. It is not often any player makes his debut at 19, but it is almost unheard of for a prop.

Meanwhile, GPS will have a handy substitute halfback sitting on the bench today against Souths at Ashgrove, with Will Genia playing what is expected to be his last club match in the company of his younger brother Nigel.