Season over for Taranaki's Mafi

1.25pm

Taranaki second five-eighth Lifeimi Mafi has had his rugby season cut short.

The 22-year-old broke his wrist in Taranaki's 22-51 loss to Auckland in Auckland on Saturday night and has his left hand in plaster.

"It's a big blow, he's been playing really well," Taranaki coach Kieran Crowley said.

"Lifeimi has had an outstanding season. He's certainly stood up and made the grade. He's created a lot of play for us."

Crowley said Mafi, a former New Zealand sevens and New Zealand Colts player, was likely to be sidelined for two or three weeks.

With only three rounds remaining before the semifinals, the best case scenario for Mafi would be returning in time for the Waikato match in New Plymouth on Saturday, October 9.

The return of midfielder Matt Harvey from a knee injury would bolster the midfield ranks.

Harvey has missed the last two matches, but trained with the team today.

Mafi's injury wasn't the only one from Saturday night's game.

Winger Shayne Austin is rated only a 50-50 chance of playing against Wellington in the capital on Saturday after hurting his knee when scoring a try against Auckland.

"He didn't train tonight and he's only 50-50 to play this weekend... and that's being pretty generous."

All Black hooker Andrew Hore, who missed the Auckland game because of a rib injury, trained today.

"I'll leave it as late as possible to make a decision on Andrew. He trained, but the injury was still niggling away," Crowley said.

- NZPA

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