Sad news for Petaia
Jordan Petaia unlikely starter for Queensland following father’s death
Wayne Smith
August 7, 2020
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.
.. 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.
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.