The Highlanders will spend at least another week without head coach Aaron Mauger who is on bereavement leave.
While his team travelled to Brisbane to take on the Reds, Mauger was in Christchurch with his family to spend time with his unwell mother.
Interim head coach Mark Hammett told Stuff that Mauger's mother died during the Highlanders 18-15 win over the Reds.
Hammett added that he wouldn't play any part in preparing the southern franchise for their showdown against the Hurricanes next week.
The Highlanders were able to edge out the Reds last night with Hammett at the helm and he would stay there for next week's game.
