The New South Wales Waratahs suffered a heavy blow last week when Lalakai Foketi, one of their star players, suffered a shock injury during a pre-season training session. Foketi has enjoyed success for the Australian international squad and has been a key part of the Waratahs squad since 2018.
Below, we take a look at what happened, his current condition and what this means for the Waratahs and their 2024 Rugby Super Pacific campaign.
How the injury occurred
The injury actually happened during a Waratahs training session only two days before the Super Rugby Pacific season opener against the Queensland Reds. It came as a shock and from the descriptions we have heard, it was a fairly innocuous incident that left Foketi in a serious condition.
Sources state that Foketi was treated by paramedics on the scene for over 30 minutes for a neck injury, with the Waratahs’ coach reporting that he had movement in his fingers, which was initially promising. Foketi was taken to hospital in a neck brace, where his wife met him.
Current update on Foketi’s condition
Early signs were worrying for Foketi and the Waratahs, as there were fears of spinal damage, but these were cleared after a CT scan performed at the Prince of Wales Hospital on Friday. The CT scan was encouraging in that it showed no vertebrae cracks or spinal damage, but the full extent of the injury still wasn’t clear and coach Coleman reinforced that Foketi was by no means out of the woods.
After further testing, including an MRI, Foketi’s condition and prognosis had improved greatly and the Waratahs’ star was able to return home on Friday and got to watch his team’s (somewhat disappointing) season opener. His neck injury has been likened to what Dom Young from the Sydney Roosters NRL suffered a few weeks prior, and Foketi is expected to resume light training with the aid of a neck brace within a week.
Consultations and sessions with neuro specialists are expected, too, and there will be a rebuilding process before Foketi can even consider contact training or playing again. So, while there were immense fears in the aftermath of the incident, Foketi’s condition and outlook are certainly better than expected.
But, with this new injury, it could be quite some time before the Waratahs can return to full form. A quick way of checking the optimism around the Waratahs’ prospects is by a quick glance at their sportsbook odds, which are painting a bleak picture. The numbers aren’t looking great, with sites such as Kwiff showing long odds for their next few matches. Sportsbook odds aren’t the be all and end all, and with a quick and suitable replacement, I’m sure the odds will improve – together with their RSP chances.
How this will impact the Waratahs Super Rugby Pacific campaign
Foketi could have potentially made a difference in their season opener against the Queensland Reds, in which the Waratahs got thumped 40-22. Throughout the match, the Reds dominated possession, although during the first half, both teams were in it with equal chances. It was in the second half that the Waratahs fell behind, and this could perhaps be a sign of things to come, so it may be quite some time before the Waratahs can return to full form.
The Waratahs start off in ninth position in the competition, with a points difference of -18 – not a great start for the one-time Super Rugby winners. Their next matches include:
- vs Crusaders (2 March)
- vs Highlanders (8 March)
- vs Blues (16 March)
- vs Fijian Drua (23 March)
These are some tough matchups against predominantly club rugby teams with winning records, so the absence of Lalakai Foketi will surely be felt. Indeed, with the currently unknown prognosis and no date for a return to play, this injury has the potential to derail the Waratahs’ season. Hopefully, the coming week will provide some update on his condition and a timeframe for his return.
However, at present, we can’t expect Foketi to play against the Crusaders, and judging by the fact that he is only just returning to light training with a neck brace, he could potentially miss the entire match schedule for March.
Hopefully, Foketi makes a quick recovery and gets back into action
For any Super Rugby Pacific team, losing a star player just before the start of the season without him playing a single game is a huge blow. Only time will tell how long-lasting the injury is, how it affects the Waratahs’ season and how it affects Lalakai Foketi’s play.
We trust that he makes a quick recovery and can get back to competing in the Super Rugby competition, and help get the Waratahs back on track.
