Huddersfield Giants legend Ukuma Ta'ai might not play again in 2020

The blockbusting Tongan second-row limped off shortly after scoring in their last outing against Warrington Wolves and has now been told he might be out for up to four months.

Ta’ai, who turns 34 in January, is out of contract at the end of the season.

He has become a big fans’ favourite at John Smith’s Stadium ever since helping the club win the 2013 League Leaders Shield in his debut campaign after joining from New Zealand Warriors.

Giants coach Simon Woolford said: “Ukuma’s got a really bad lateral ligament injury in his ankle.

“They’re talking three or four months so there’s every possibility he won’t play again this year.

“It’s disappointing; it was rather innocuous and didn’t look anything real serious but as it’s turned out it is.

“We have to get on with things without Ukuma now, unfortunately.”

Asked if it might be the last time fans see him in Huddersfield colours, Woolford added: “It’d be a real shame for Ukuma not to play for the club again.

“We have a couple of guys sort of in limbo for next year and out of contract.

“He’s had a good run here. Someone said he’s been here nine years now and I’d certainly like to think he hasn’t played his last game for the club.

“But we’ll have to wait and see.”

Woolford is facing a raft of problems ahead of Sunday’s game with Hull with scrum-half and captain Aidan Sezer unlikely to be fit after also limping off in the 19-18 defeat against Warrrington with a hamstring strain.

Stand-off Lee Gaskell remains sidelined with a broken thumb so youngster Olly Russell could partner Tom Holmes in the halves.

“Seze is in a fair bit of doubt,” Woolford added.

“I’d be surprised if he’s going to make it.

“We already have Gasky out, Ukuma’s gone long-term, Paul Clough’s left the club (for Widnes Vikings), Adam Walne hasn’t recovered from his head knock (against Warrington) and Joe Wardle and Aaron Murphy are still not available.

“When it rains pours. We’ve had a couple of tight losses and on the back of it we’ve lost quite a few blokes.

“It’s a tough period for us. We knew it was going to come at some stage. “We didn’t anticipate it was going to be this early.

“But again we’ve got depth in the squad and I’m confident in the players that will come in.

“We just need to get on with it.”

Prop James Gavet has been serving a 14 day suspension for breaking Covid protocols and he is not allowed to return to training until tomorrow but Jordan Turner could come back into the mix against his former club.