Sitting on the same number in DHL Super Rugby Pacific last year as the result of a broken arm, he faces a further delay this year while recovering from the second broken jaw he has suffered in his career.
He said friendly fire was responsible, but at least it was on the other side of his face this time.
Tuipolotu said after returning to Auckland on Monday that Adrian Choat's head clashed with his jaw while coming down from the heights of a lineout flanker.
"I pretty much felt it straight away. My head was ringing. There was only a couple of minutes to go in the half.
"I had broken the other side before so I knew what it felt like. It wasn't as bad as my previous broken jaw but I knew something was cracked."
He hoped to have surgery on the break as soon as possible, and he expected to be able to resume playing in eight to ten weeks.