Highlanders’ injury crisis worsens

THE injury list just keeps on growing for the Highlanders.

Waisake Naholo and Lima Sopoaga became the side’s 12th and 13th casualties during Saturday night’s 1612 win over the Blues at Eden Park. Both left the field with hamstring problems and, while nothing had been confirmed, it was not looking good for either.

‘‘[It is] tough to say,’’ head coach Tony Brown said.

‘‘It doesn’t look like Waisake and Lima are going to be back in a hell of a hurry. So it looks like they’ll be out for a while.’’

Naholo appeared to hurt himself while contesting a cross kick on the Blues’ line. He played on for the next five minutes, then left the field.

Sopoaga was forced off after chasing down George Moala to pull off a trysaving tackle with 15 minutes to play.

The team’s depth was tested, as it went into the game with 11 injuries and Malakai Fekitoa and Tevita Li also had stints on the sideline. With just two backs in the reserves, Gareth Evans was forced to the wing at one point.

Reserve halfback Kayne Hammington also found himself playing out wider.

Brown did not panic, although he was hoping the team’s luck would turn.

‘‘I knew we’d be fine if we could field 15 players,’’ he said.

‘‘Gareth Evans can play in the backs and we ended up with Kayne Hammington on the wing and they did a great job.

‘‘But I think it’s just the story of our season so far.

‘‘The injuries that we’ve got, we’re losing guys in the first couple of minutes of the game. It always puts you under pressure as a team.

‘‘So we just need a bit of luck and we need things to turn around pretty quickly so we can get our mojo back and start playing some good footy.’’