It was an ideal start for the Hurricanes in their opening game of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, but it wasn’t all perfect for head coach Clark Laidlaw as his starting first-five went down with a major injury.

One-Test All Black first-five Brett Cameron was trusted in the No.10 jersey to start the 2026 season, with both Ruben Love and Harry Godfrey out with injuries.

Love will be back in the next 4-6 weeks, but Godfrey will miss the entire season due to a long-term knee injury.

Cameron started the game at Sky Stadium on the front foot, playing a hand in a couple of the Hurricanes’ tries to Fehi Fineanganofo and Josh Moorby in the first half.

But in the 23rd minute, Cameron attempted to make a tackle in midfield before staying down with what looked like a lower leg injury.

Cameron had to be replaced by Billy Proctor and stretchered from the field, which moved fullback Callum Harkin to first-five.

Post-match, the Hurricanes posted on social media saying the 29-year-old had gone to the hospital for scans on his knee.

Laidlaw, speaking to media in Wellington after the match, said he was devastated for his No.10.

“Yeah it didn’t look good. I’m not fully sure but it’s definitely his knee. It’s not his knee that he did his ACL on,  it’s the other knee, but yeah didn’t look good.

“Really disappointing, if it’s as bad as well. He worked so very hard last year to do a five and a half month ACL recovery, he’s in great condition.

“He had an awesome preseason. He’s been leading the team really well. So it’s a hammer blow to him, if it’s serious.”

Hurricanes captain and close friend Jordie Barrett echoes Laidlaw’s thoughts.

“It’s a sick feeling when you see a good made of yours go down and the green whistle, and it’s a gutting blow to him, after the injury history he’s had,” Barrett told reporters in Wellington.

“He worked so hard, and he’s very important to our squad. We saw the difference he made in the back end to last year when he came back.

“And, you know, with Ruben being out, we we need our team. So, yeah, just gutted actually.”