Quade Cooper’s return from injury has been set back another week with the star playmaker missing the Sharks selection cutoff by 48 hours.
The Reds medical staff pushing Cooper’s return out to next week’s clash with the Western Force, after failing to complete the required contact work on his injured shoulder.
“It’s only a matter of days, he should be right next week,” Will Genia said. “He’s an incredible healer and he works very hard in terms of his rehabilitation.”
Cooper’s absence means another week in the number ten jersey for rookie Jake McIntyre, who shone in the Reds mauling of the Rebels.
“I thought he did very well, he was obviously chucked in the deep end where he was put in a position to call and dictate how we wanted to play the game and I thought he did a really good job.”
While McIntyre’s Reds career is just starting, Genia has just four games left in his. The scrum half set to join French side Stade Francais at the end of the season.
“I’m getting a little bit emotional about it, a little bit sad. You start to think about it a little bit but you don’t want it to cloud your thought preparation in regards to games.”
Winger Chris Kuridrani has come into the side to face the Sharks with Lachie Turner ruled out because of concussion.
