However, he did gain All Blacks Jimmy Cowan and Tom Donnelly, who officially started training with the Highlanders yesterday, returning from leave after the end of year All Black tour.
The addition of the two All Blacks supposedly gave Joseph his full complement of 32 players.
But 11 squad members failed to front, laid low by a stomach bug which has swept through the squad.
"The guys have picked it up over the weekend and though it does not seem to be too bad and things will come right we could have done without it.
Guys live together, hang round together and then train together so it is pretty hard to contain," Joseph said.
So instead of planning strategies for this weekend's game against the Blues, Joseph was concentrating on getting a team on the paddock.
Joseph himself has also been hampered by a niggling injury, forced to wear a moon boot occasionally.
The former All Black loose forward has bone spurs in his feet, a hangover from his playing days.
"It flares up from time to time and I'm supposed to rest it but I can't rest it at the moment.
"It's not too bad. I can manage it."
Another one under an injury cloud is fullback Kurt Baker who had a scan on his injured back yesterday.
Results should be available later in the week.
Baker had a fracture in his back diagnosed last October and has had three months rest.
Though he can run and train, his immediate playing future will depend on the results of the scan.
It is a similar injury to that experienced by former Highlander Michael Hobbs who played most of last season with the side but was forced to have a back operation in the United States late last year.
Key first five-eighth Colin Slade appears to be over a groin injury and trained yesterday.
