KEY POINTS:
BRISBANE - Kiwis centre Steve Matai has been confirmed as unavailable for the rugby league World Cup final against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday because of injury.
Matai aggravated a neck problem in the Kiwis' pool match against England in Newcastle, where he was stretchered off late in the first half, and he wasn't considered for the semifinal over the same opponents in Brisbane last Saturday.
Instead, he returned to Sydney last week at the request of his club, Manly, to consult a specialist he has seen in the past.
Kiwis doctor Simon Mayhew today confirmed that Matai was out of the final.
"We liaised with his club and they got a specialist assessment," he said.
"Steve has had some ongoing problems and he's due to have some things done there. I don't know the ins and outs, but he's not available for us this weekend."
Matai was set to have surgery after the World Cup anyway, having carried shoulder and neck injuries through the Sea Eagles' run to the National Rugby League title.
Mayhew said the shoulder would not have prevented Matai from playing, but the neck problem was the issue.
- NZPA
