League: Ankle surgery keeps Utai out of Kiwis

1.00pm - By CHRIS BARCLAY

SYDNEY - Matt Utai, the Bulldogs two-try NRL grand final star, has ruled himself out playing for the Kiwis in the upcoming Tri-Series against Australia and Great Britain.

Obviously euphoric after playing a huge role in the Bulldogs 16-13 defeat of the Sydney Roosters at Telstra Stadium last night, the chunky wing briefly tempered celebrations by delivering news the Kiwis selectors must have dreaded. His left ankle needs surgery again and he is a non-starter for the Kiwis training squad, despite being named last night.

"I've got to see a specialist on Friday. It doesn't look too good and I'll need another operation. I don't think it'll hold up.

"There's cartilage damage and it keeps chipping away at the bone. This will the third operation I've needed on it."

Utai has carried the injury for the last three years and although he had the option to play through the discomfort and tour with the Kiwis, surgery on his return to Australia in late November would ensure he missed a fair slice of the 2005 NRL campaign.

"It could be out for six months with the rehabilitation. If I get it done now I'll still miss a few games at the start of next year."

It is the second time Utai's ankle has seen him miss out on a northern hemisphere tour.

He was chosen for the 2002 tour of Great Britain and France but was only released by the Bulldogs to make his debut in a pre-tour test against Australia at Wellington before he had an operation on the injury-prone joint.

The former Aucklander also played in last year's July test in Sydney but then fell out of favour with Kiwis coach Daniel Anderson.

However, his form as the Bulldogs rolled relentlessly to their eighth premiership saw him as a definite for the Kiwis' opening Tri-Series clash with the Kangaroos at North Harbour Stadium on October 16.

Utai illustrated just how much his skills will be missed after an impressive all round performance in his maiden grand final.

He scored twice out wide and before his double he had the Bulldogs Army out of their seats early with an amazing 60m burst down the left hand touch line from deep inside the in goal.

Trailing 0-6 to a try by his opposite Chris Walker, the Bulldogs started their revival when Utai latched on to an Andrew Ryan cut out pass to slide over in the corner in the 23rd minute.

He also landed a critical psychological blow for his team three minutes after the restart when, with little room to work in, he barrelled thorough the would-be tackles of Chris Flannery and Anthony Minichiello to squeeze over and reduce the deficit to one point.

"It (the tries) gives me something to remember for a long time," said Utai, who admitted to a crisis of confidence earlier in the season.

"The coach (Steve Folkes) dropped me down (to premier league) at the beginning of the season. I needed it and it's brought the best out of me.

"I was low on confidence but it paid off in the end. This is just the best feeling."

Utai swiftly sought out his three-year-old son Iziah after the final hooter and carried him to the podium to collect his ring before father and son joined the lap of honour.

He also paid tribute to his partner Lina.

"Put it down to the wife too. She's was there at the beginning of the year when times were tough. Everything I've done is for them."

- NZPA