Super Rugby Pacific: Veteran TJ Perenara poised to take Hurricanes reins after season-ending injury to Cam Roigard

Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan doesn't expect the unbeaten Hurricanes to miss a beat, despite losing kingpin halfback Cam Roigard for the remainder of their Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

The Wellington-based outfit are cruising atop the competition ladder, with a six-game run that tapered nicely into a bye week and a chance to emerge re-energised against their Waikato rivals on Saturday.

They lost Roigard - the hair apparent to Aaron Smith for the All Blacks No.9 jersey - to a knee injury against the Highlanders and must now adjust their plans around veteran TJ Perenara, who is already the franchise's most-capped player.

McMillan expects the Hurricanes will be just fine with Perenara calling the shots.

"TJ is a fairly established, experienced halfback, All Black, competitor, leftfooter," he said. "I don't know they actually lose a lot and that's no slight on Cam Roigard.

"I just think TJ has come back hungry and he's been the spiritual hub of that team for a long time.

I know he'll want to go out there and make a statement, so I'm not sure they miss anything."

Join Newshub at 7pm Saturday for live updates of the Chiefs v Hurricanes Super Rugby Pacific clash

More to come

Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan doesn't expect the unbeaten Hurricanes to miss a beat, despite losing kingpin halfback Cam Roigard for the remainder of their Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

The Wellington-based outfit are cruising atop the competition ladder, with a six-game run that tapered nicely into a bye week and a chance to emerge re-energised against their Waikato rivals on Saturday.

They lost Roigard - the hair apparent to Aaron Smith for the All Blacks No.9 jersey - to a knee injury against the Highlanders and must now adjust their plans around veteran TJ Perenara, who is already the franchise's most-capped player.

McMillan expects the Hurricanes will be just fine with Perenara calling the shots.

"TJ is a fairly established, experienced halfback, All Black, competitor, leftfooter," he said. "I don't know they actually lose a lot and that's no slight on Cam Roigard.

"I just think TJ has come back hungry and he's been the spiritual hub of that team for a long time.

I know he'll want to go out there and make a statement, so I'm not sure they miss anything."

Join Newshub at 7pm Saturday for live updates of the Chiefs v Hurricanes Super Rugby Pacific clash

More to come

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