League: Lockyer and Fitzgibbon out for Kangaroos, Kiwis OK

1.00pm

DUBLIN - Captain Darren Lockyer and goalkicker Craig Fitzgibbon have been ruled out of Australia's Tri-Nations rugby league test against Great Britain this weekend.

Lockyer aggravated a chronic rib injury in Saturday night's 32-12 win over New Zealand in London, while second rower Fitzgibbon suffered a shoulder injury.

Kangaroos team doctor Hugh Hazzard said neither player would be fit to take on Britain at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday.

Fitzgibbon missed the first Tri-Nations match against New Zealand in Auckland on October 16 with a similar problem in his other shoulder.

With a bye following the match against Britain, Hazzard was hopeful Fitzgibbon would recover in time for Australia's next game, but he said Lockyer's chances were more difficult to predict.

Lock Tonie Carroll was concussed against the Kiwis but Hazzard said he was fine after being examined today and he will be available to play against Britain.

However there are no serious injury problems for the Kiwis after Sunday's loss.

Henry Fa'afili now joins the Kiwis camp in Leeds, replacing Lesley Vainikolo.

Coach Daniel Anderson has scheduled two training sessions for the squad on Tuesday.

The Great Britain squad returns on Monday after spending the week training in Spain.

Meanwhile the Loftus Road test has proven a major success for the series organisers with the sell-out crowd of 16,700 well over the budgeted figure of 10,000.

- AAP, Newstalk ZB