League: Puletua to undergo season-ending surgery

Penrith and New Zealand second-rower Tony Puletua will have season-ending chest surgery on Thursday.

The Kiwis have been decimated following a series of injuries to their forward pack, with teenage star Sonny Bill Williams (ankle and mumps), Puletua and his Panthers team-mate Joe Galuvao (groin) unavailable for the Anzac test against Australia in Brisbane on April 22.

Backrower Monty Betham and hooker Tevita Latu are also in trouble with the NRL judiciary and could be suspended for the test in Brisbane.

A scan yesterday revealed Puletua had suffered a tear to a pectoral muscle during Penrith's 36-16 win over Melbourne last Friday.

"Tony will need an operation and the worst-case scenario is that he could be out for six months," Panthers general manager Mick Leary said last night.

Galuvao has a groin tear which will sideline him for up to four weeks.