Cory Jane discusses Tyrel Lomax's injury and Peter Lakai's progression

Former All Black and current Hurricanes assistant coach Cory Jane has provided an update on one of the team’s most important players, while praising another up-and-coming player in their environment.

Jane is in charge of the defence at the Wellington-based Super Rugby Pacific franchise, the Hurricanes, as they head into another campaign starting in mid-February.

One player who is crucial for both the All Blacks and the Hurricanes, tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax, is still recovering from a broken thumb that kept him out of a decent chunk of 2025, where he struggled to stay fit consistently.

Lomax has made 48-Test caps for the All Blacks so far in his career, and will be looking to pass the half-century milestone during their 2026 international campaign.

Ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, Jane has given an update on where Lomax’s injury is currently at, after missing the end-of-year tour with the All Blacks.

“He’s training with us, I think in the next week he gets clearance on his thumb from the specialist, and they’ll say that he can get stuck into it or not,” Jane said on the DSPN Podcast.

“And then whether he’s available for the second preseason game or I don’t know but he should get clearance and shouldn’t be seeing him too far away.”

Just after the last game of the end-of-year tour for the All Blacks, now former head coach Scott Robertson pointed out Hurricanes loose-forward Peter Lakai as a standout in 2025.

His former head coach believed the 22-year-old was effective on both sides of the ball and has shown his class in only a short amount of time.

“But sort of overall, look, I think Peter Lakai took his opportunity. He’s been superb both sides of the ball with his carry and he’s an incredible pro, like I’m just really pleased he showed what it takes to be a Test footballer,” Robertson said to Sky Sport after the final game in 2025.

Jane, speaking on the DSPN Podcast, explained that he’s progressing into a quality player not only at Super Rugby Pacific level, but in the international arena as well.

“He’s one of those guys that you know, he just comes back and you don’t know if he’s trained much or what he’s done, but he’s, he just fits, and he’s just doesn’t look like he’s a sweat on his forehead.

“I had him in my my defence group last year, my defence strategy group just to try to get him talking more in the team, and he just stood up and and he started that.

“So now another year in the squad, so what he did at the back end of the All Blacks tour as well, like unbelievable.

“I think he always backs himself in rugby, but the confidence to speak up really get that leadership role in that demanding role, I think will be the next part of his progression in rugby, because he’s an unbelievable talent.”