Western Force coach Simon Cron says Jeremy Thrush's shock retirement backflip could last the entire Super Rugby Pacific season as the side battles an early injury outbreak.
Thrush retired at the end of last season, but Cron sent out an SOS to the former All Blacks lock when Ryan McCauley suffered a pre-season shoulder injury.
Another foot fracture to Wallabies star Izack Rodda further stretched the Force's lock stocks, resulting in Thrush being named on the bench for Saturday night's 34-27 win over the Rebels in Perth.