Hurricanes Suffer Blow as Brett Cameron Faces Another Knee Injury
Wellington, New Zealand – – The Hurricanes are facing a significant setback early in the Super Rugby Pacific season with a knee injury to first five-eighth Brett Cameron. The injury occurred during their 52-10 victory over Moana Pasifika on Friday night, casting doubt on the playmaker’s availability for the remainder of the campaign.
Cameron was stretchered off the field after just 23 minutes of play. While the exact nature of the injury is still being assessed, Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw confirmed it is a knee injury, but thankfully not to the same ACL that sidelined him for much of 2025. “I’m not fully sure. It’s definitely his knee. It’s not his knee that he did his ACL [in], it’s his other knee. I think he went off to hospital. Really disappointing if it’s as bad as what it looked,” Laidlaw said after the match.
The injury is particularly disheartening given Cameron’s arduous recovery from an ACL tear last year, which limited him to only four Super Rugby Pacific appearances in 2025. Laidlaw emphasized the emotional toll this new injury will take on the player. “He worked so bloody hard last year to do a five-and-a-half-month ACL return. He’s in great condition, he had an awesome pre-season, he’s been leading the team really well. It’s a hammer blow to him. It’ll take a wee bit of sinking in. We’ll need to get around him if it’s serious.”
The Hurricanes’ victory over Moana Pasifika was nonetheless a strong performance, featuring a dominant display from the wings. Josh Moorby, recently returned from playing abroad, scored a hat-trick before the 45-minute mark, while Fehi Fineanganofo, who is set to move offshore at the end of the season, added a brace. Moorby also spent much of the game at fullback due to the positional changes necessitated by Cameron’s injury.
Loose forward Brayden Iose also contributed a double to the score sheet, and midfielder Billy Proctor added a try after being brought into the game off the bench following Cameron’s exit. With Cameron unavailable, second five-eighths Jordie Barrett assumed the goal-kicking duties, successfully converting five attempts.
The loss of Cameron places further strain on the Hurricanes’ playmaker depth, especially with Ruben Love already sidelined for at least three more weeks. The team will now look to Callum Harkin or Lucas Cashmore to fill the crucial No. 10 jersey. Harkin started at fullback against Moana Pasifika but transitioned to first five after Cameron’s injury, while Cashmore has been playing at first five-eighths for the development team.
The injury has understandably impacted the team’s morale. Barrett expressed his disappointment for his teammate, stating, “It’s a sick feeling when you see a good mate of yours go down with the green whistle. It’s a gutting blow to him after the injury history he’s had and he’s worked so hard. He’s very important to our squad. We saw what a difference he made at the back end of last year when he came back and, with Ruben being out, we need our 10. I’m just disappointed as a mate, and gutted.”
While the Hurricanes secured a comfortable win, the injury to Cameron casts a shadow over their early season momentum. The team will be hoping for positive news from medical evaluations, but the immediate focus will be on adapting their game plan and providing support for their injured playmaker. The potential return of burgeoning star Harry Godfrey in the coming weeks could alleviate some of the pressure, but the loss of Cameron is a significant blow to the Hurricanes’ ambitions in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
