Waratahs playmaker Will Harrison will sit out a second season after re-injuring his knee in club rugby last week.
The crushing blow came as Harrison prepared to make his Super Rugby comeback against the Force at Allianz Stadium this Saturday.
The talented five-eighth and fullback appeared for Randwick in their round two clash with Newcastle last Friday but was carried off after injuring the knee in open play.
“That’s a bit of a blow, we were looking at him playing this weekend … He’ll now more than likely head in for surgery this week,” NSW coach Darren Coleman said.
Harrison was coming back from a toe injury that had delayed his long-awaited return from a multi-ligament knee injury midway through last season.
He has been the missing link in the Waratahs’ back line depth this season, as a fullback and five-eighth option to challenge Ben Donaldson and Tane Edmed for the No.10 jersey and an option at the back in the absence of the stood-down Kurtley Beale.
Will Harrison has re-ruptured the ACL in his knee and will miss the rest of the season.Credit: Getty
Teenage star Max Jorgensen has moved from the wing back to fullback in Harrison’s absence and stepped up with ease, but it has stretched the side’s depth with Edmed sidelined with a back inj.
Edmed was due to return this week but will be subject to further medical checks, as will forwards Mahe Vailanu (knee) and Hugh Sinclair (shoulder).
Both the Waratahs and Force are coming off a bye and tight losses to top teams before that. The Force went down 45-42 away to the Hurricanes while NSW fell short of an upset against the Brumbies in Canberra.
The Force are a spot above the Waratahs on the ladder after two wins from six games, while the Waratahs are still only one win from six.
“He’s just got to take the bit between his teeth, whether it’s his ball carry, his tackling, he’s just a little stand-offish…”
NSW coach Darren Coleman on Ben Donaldson
Coleman said he was confident his side could tap into the attitude that produced their best performance of the season in Canberra.
“We tweaked a few things in our attack, we simplified things, and we probably got back to focusing a bit more on us and worrying a bit less about the opposition,” he said. “We played with a general desperation and spirit, so the challenge now is to pull it out again this week.”
Pressure continues to build on five-eighth Ben Donaldson who, by his own admission, has been poor at No.10 but was picked by Wallabies coach Eddie Jones for the upcoming camp on the Gold Coast.
With Edmed returning this week or next, and Harrison now out of the picture, Coleman confirmed he was keen to get some competitive tension back in that position.
“Ben’s shown some glimpses over the 14 months I’ve been here but he admitted that he hasn’t been shooting the lights out in his games he’s had at No.10 for us,” he said.
“It’s just confidence. He’s just got to take the bit between his teeth, whether it’s his ball carry, his tackling, he’s just a little stand-offish, a little hesitant and, like everyone, just lacking a bit of confidence.
“If you can find that magic serum to get his confidence and run hard and tackle hard, then I think things will come off the back of it.”
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