Hurricanes dealt major blow as Brayden Iose ruled out for the season

Brayden Iose will miss the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season, with the Hurricanes releasing an injury update on Wednesday. Iose limped off the field 10 minutes into last week’s clash with the Highlanders and will play no further part in the Canes’ title bid.

In a star-studded squad that boasts genuine world-class talent in the backrow, Iose has been a consistent starter for the Canes yet again this season, named in the run-on side eight times from 12 appearances.

2024 All Blacks XV captain Du’Plessis Kirifi was initially named on the bench for the crunch New Zealand derby at the Cake Tin, while former England international Brad Shields and All Black Peter Lakai also featured in the First XV.

While making a burst down the left edge, Iose was caught awkwardly by Highlanders outside centre Tanielu Tele’a. There was a decent break in play as medical staff attended to the backrower’s ankle, which was heavily strapped.

Iose tried to play on but only lasted another minute before leaving the field, with Kirifi coming off the bench as an impact player. The Hurricanes went on to steal the win 24-20, with halfback Cam Roigard crossing for a last-gasp try, but the update on Iose is far from positive.

“Brayden Iose has sustained an injury to his lower leg in round 14 against the Highlanders,” the Hurricanes’ injury update reads.

“He will be out for the remainder of the Super Rugby Pacific season.”

With Iose still on the field, the Hurricanes had gone behind early, with Jonah Lowe scoring the opener less than two minutes into the contest. But the Canes clawed their way back, even after losing Iose, with Bailyn Sullivan crossing 10 minutes after Lowe’s effort.

Lowe was back on the scoresheet later in the half, and no more points were scored during the second quarter of the match, with the Highlanders taking a valiant 14-7 lead into the sheds. It seemed an upset was well and truly on the cards.

 

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Roigard helped the Canes get off to an idyllic start early in the second term, linking up with Fehi Fineanganofo to score. Rube Love’s accuracy off the kicking tee later helped the hosts take the lead for the first time, but it didn’t last long.

Taine Robinson had the Highlanders in the box seat with less than 10 minutes to play, having knocked over two penalty goals in quick succession. Timoci Tavatanawai was a menace around the breakdown but the Landers just couldn’t hold on.

In the final play of the match, Roigard reached out for the match-winning score in the 80^th minute. That win sets up an enthralling battle between the Canes and Reds this Friday in Brisbane, with the winner set to take hold of fourth spot going into the final round.

“I guess we probably didn’t play the way we wanted to, especially, we started real poor. A lot of turnovers and even at the end there, still probably gave the Highlanders a lot of opportunity to close that out,” Roigard sad post-game on Sky Sport.

“I guess we were lucky just to fight.

“We talked a lot about effort and the little things, how important that’s going to be.

“To go more than 80 minutes and clinch it at the end there, pretty stoked for the boys.”