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The damaging Queensland No 13 missed Sunday’s third round clash with the Jaguares after hurting himself while attempting a tackle in training.
It is the second serious setback in as many seasons for the 19-year-old, after a second round foot injury had ruined his 2019 campaign.
All up, he has played less than four matches in two seasons for the Reds, but had still managed to feature in three World Cup games, despite a separate hamstring injuring delaying his inevitable Wallabies debut.
Petaia rocketed into the Wallabies starting lineup in the cup quarterfinal against England and was one of the side’s best in Australia’s most recent Test.
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But, with a 20 week rehabilitation period ahead of him, his place in the side for July’s Tests against Ireland is in serious doubt.
He might set his sights on Townsville’s Test on July 18 against Fiji, while the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship follow from August-October.
With a target on his back to begin the season, Petaia was kept quiet in the first two games, but his absence is still a massive blow for the winless Reds (0-3) before Saturday’s home opener against the Sunwolves.
However, the performance of his replacement Hunter Paisami, voted man of the match by his teammates in the loss to the Jaguares, is some solace for coach Brad Thorn.
Paisami did his best to replicate departed captain Samu Kerevi’s straight running, busting through to set up one try and almost score one himself as the Reds burst to a 24-7 lead only to lose 43-27.
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Wallabies and Queensland great Tim Horan told the Fox Rugby Podcast that Paisami had a bright future.
“I watched him last year in club rugby in Brisbane, as a 20-year-old playing for the Wests club in Brisbane,” Horan said.
“I watched three or four of his games and he’s strong running.
“The way that he plays, he’s got good vision as well and there’s not a lot of players that can actually be good hole runners.
“That allows a fly half like James O’Connor or Tate McDermott — when you have hole runners you can actually just put the ball in front and run onto it.
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“So a good player, a bit to go yet, he’s still only young but the way the Queensland Reds can play now — with Samu Kerevi not there — it’s going to force them to have more of an expansive game plan.
“Going on tour, being part of his first professional outfit, is going to do good things for him.”
Former No 10 Hamish Stewart has re-invented himself this season as a hard nosed centre.
With James O’Connor starring at five-eighth in Argentina, Jock Campbell, Bryce Hegarty and Isaac Lucas are also backline options this weekend for Thorn.