Hideki Ishige (Unattached FC)

Still have visions of him coming off. Obviously in enormous pain, with each arm around two medical staff.

Three opposition players put their hands out to him and despite his obvious pain, he made an effort to take each of their hands when you could see it wasn’t helping his situation but inflaming it.

I don’t want to say so Japanese but I dont think any kiwis or australians would have responded like that. 

Respect.

Half a Pint

RR

Wellington Phoenix attacker Hideki Ishige is out for the season with an ACL injury

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) November 7, 2025

Hopefully he makes enough for us to get an IR.

Probably the last we see of him in a Nix shirt as well.

Thought it was going to be an ACL - hoped it wouldn't be but the way he went down under no contact and a slightly unnatural knee movement worried me.

Wish him the best for his recovery - I'm guessing being under contract for the rest of the season he will likely be allowed to do it at the NZCIS?

He might opt to head back to Japan in order to rehab it. A familiar environment for the family might help the 6-9 months of rehabbing go by quicker. 

coochiee

Sad news for Ishige. Will go down as one the better dead ball takers to play for the Nix.

J1 & J2 leagues about to finish up, Chiefy would have made some contacts in Japan on his little tour there last year. Might be an IR can be found from there?

Otherwise is someone like Jay Herdman a free agent?
Wonder how Stefan Colakovski own ACL rehab is going over in Perth?

He has been spotted training with the Glory, so when cleared & the Glory has cap space, I would expect him to be wearing purple again at some point this season.

RR

Wellington Phoenix attacker Hideki Ishige is out for the season with an ACL injury

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) November 7, 2025

Hopefully he makes enough for us to get an IR.

Probably the last we see of him in a Nix shirt as well.

Yeah you'd think out of all the imports he'd be on the most coin. Did come from the J1, at 29 and a forward so you'd say he'd be on more than Nagasawa who was 32 and from J2.

How do the IR rules work? Weirdly can't find anything online

Shark! That's a huge loss. We will really need Najjarine/LBS to step up in the meantime. Maybe gives GSR a chance to show us what he's got. Hopefully a solid replacement can be lined up in January. Gutted for him and the team. 

nixiefan

How do the IR rules work? Weirdly can't find anything online

I saw recently the player has to be earning $350,000+ a season to be able to use IR. Ishige I'd imagine would be close to it. If I had to guess he'd be on around $250,000 but hopefully it was the $350,000+

wilbaker

nixiefan

How do the IR rules work? Weirdly can't find anything online

I saw recently the player has to be earning $350,000+ a season to be able to use IR. Ishige I'd imagine would be close to it. If I had to guess he'd be on around $250,000 but hopefully it was the $350,000+

Mark Milligan in the Jets post match presser said the Jets don't met the thresholds to get Injury Replacement players. When asked what the thresholds were, he said they need to be earning over $300k (presumably AUD).

wilbaker

nixiefan

How do the IR rules work? Weirdly can't find anything online

I saw recently the player has to be earning $350,000+ a season to be able to use IR. Ishige I'd imagine would be close to it. If I had to guess he'd be on around $250,000 but hopefully it was the $350,000+

I thought they said over 300k on the commentary over the weekend? 

Commentators have been known to be wrong before though!

Yep they did say 300

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

That is exactly what I said but less succinctly in the post after the CCM game. 

Most of Asia football and in fact elsewhere in countries where the league is undeveloped referees do this and physical play to the point of injury happen referees let it go, its just how it is.. I dont think we can blame the referees for his injury, its just unlucky.. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

That sucks, big time . Awful injury for him and I really had high hopes for him this season. As someone said, guess it’ll be the last we see of him  which is sad in itself. Wish him all the best with his recovery, wherever he ends up doing it. Hopefully doesn’t have too much of an impact on Nagasawa.

RR

Wellington Phoenix attacker Hideki Ishige is out for the season with an ACL injury

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) November 7, 2025

Hopefully he makes enough for us to get an IR.

Probably the last we see of him in a Nix shirt as well.

Gutted. I thought he was ready to wind up some goals after hitting the post and having some positive buzz from the new boys around him. 

Nixieboys222

Most of Asia football and in fact elsewhere in countries where the league is undeveloped referees do this and physical play to the point of injury happen referees let it go, its just how it is.. I dont think we can blame the referees for his injury, its just unlucky.. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

Nixieboys222

Most of Asia football and in fact elsewhere in countries where the league is undeveloped referees do this and physical play to the point of injury happen referees let it go, its just how it is.. I dont think we can blame the referees for his injury, its just unlucky.. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

Not just "unlucky", Nixieboys. Risky tackles can be nipped in the bud early on by a good ref. We would not have also had Rua Conchie coming off and maybe Ishige would still be able to play, if Steele got an early yellow. 

Ishige out? Fudge me, on the 5:30pm sports new on Newstalk ZB they said it was Eze out. Thank frig for that. Losing Eze would have been a BIG disaster.

Mainland FC

Nixieboys222

Most of Asia football and in fact elsewhere in countries where the league is undeveloped referees do this and physical play to the point of injury happen referees let it go, its just how it is.. I dont think we can blame the referees for his injury, its just unlucky.. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

Nixieboys222

Most of Asia football and in fact elsewhere in countries where the league is undeveloped referees do this and physical play to the point of injury happen referees let it go, its just how it is.. I dont think we can blame the referees for his injury, its just unlucky.. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

Not just "unlucky", Nixieboys. Risky tackles can be nipped in the bud early on by a good ref. We would not have also had Rua Conchie coming off and maybe Ishige would still be able to play, if Steele got an early yellow. 

Mainland FC

Nixieboys222

Most of Asia football and in fact elsewhere in countries where the league is undeveloped referees do this and physical play to the point of injury happen referees let it go, its just how it is.. I dont think we can blame the referees for his injury, its just unlucky.. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

Nixieboys222

Most of Asia football and in fact elsewhere in countries where the league is undeveloped referees do this and physical play to the point of injury happen referees let it go, its just how it is.. I dont think we can blame the referees for his injury, its just unlucky.. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

Not just "unlucky", Nixieboys. Risky tackles can be nipped in the bud early on by a good ref. We would not have also had Rua Conchie coming off and maybe Ishige would still be able to play, if Steele got an early yellow. 

Rua Conchie… that has a nice ring to it 

That's bad news. I wonder if the club releases him now given his contract expires at the end of the season. Hopefully a swift recovery for Ishige.. he was looking good this season.

rua_taniwha

Mainland FC

Nixieboys222

Most of Asia football and in fact elsewhere in countries where the league is undeveloped referees do this and physical play to the point of injury happen referees let it go, its just how it is.. I dont think we can blame the referees for his injury, its just unlucky.. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

Nixieboys222

Most of Asia football and in fact elsewhere in countries where the league is undeveloped referees do this and physical play to the point of injury happen referees let it go, its just how it is.. I dont think we can blame the referees for his injury, its just unlucky.. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

Not just "unlucky", Nixieboys. Risky tackles can be nipped in the bud early on by a good ref. We would not have also had Rua Conchie coming off and maybe Ishige would still be able to play, if Steele got an early yellow. 

Mainland FC

Nixieboys222

Most of Asia football and in fact elsewhere in countries where the league is undeveloped referees do this and physical play to the point of injury happen referees let it go, its just how it is.. I dont think we can blame the referees for his injury, its just unlucky.. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

Nixieboys222

Most of Asia football and in fact elsewhere in countries where the league is undeveloped referees do this and physical play to the point of injury happen referees let it go, its just how it is.. I dont think we can blame the referees for his injury, its just unlucky.. 

Since2007

If the A-Leagues want more entertaining games by 'letting the game flow', but it really means 'allowing just kicking the shark out of the oppositions most creative players' then games aren't going to be that great of a watch and the quality of football doesn't improve. 

This is a player welfare concern. 

Not just "unlucky", Nixieboys. Risky tackles can be nipped in the bud early on by a good ref. We would not have also had Rua Conchie coming off and maybe Ishige would still be able to play, if Steele got an early yellow. 

Rua Conchie… that has a nice ring to it 

Works so hard it feels like there's 2 of him

I know we keep on blaming the referee for shark decisions but in this case it is justified. Steele should have had 1 red and at least 4 yellows in that game. Was the referee shark scared of him??

Sad for Ishige. It was looking like he was really enjoying the new Nix tactics. Hes a good player but perhaps too physically slight for the A L. I guess as his contract is finishing at the end if the season and considering his age then thats it for his Nix career. He will probably go home and rehab there. 

Even if he doesn't earn enough to qualify for an injury replacement directly, there is probably work arounds to get one. Come January, we might be able to de-list him and use any salary cap/concessions we have left to sign a visa replacement. 

RR

Even if he doesn't earn enough to qualify for an injury replacement directly, there is probably work arounds to get one. Come January, we might be able to de-list him and use any salary cap/concessions we have left to sign a visa replacement. 

By then we could offer a cautious half a season contract to Colakovski :-)

Mainland FC

RR

Even if he doesn't earn enough to qualify for an injury replacement directly, there is probably work arounds to get one. Come January, we might be able to de-list him and use any salary cap/concessions we have left to sign a visa replacement. 

By then we could offer a cautious half a season contract to Colakovski :-)

 If only we could Frankenstein ourselves a player with bits of all the injured players... it would make for a hell of a 10!