KEY POINTS:
The Kiwis have been forced into two changes to their rugby league World Cup squad after fullback Brent Webb and prop Jeff Lima were today ruled out by injury.
The have been replaced by St George Illawarra winger-fullback Jason Nightingale and Warriors front rower Evarn Tuimavave respectively.
Leeds
fullback Webb, who has played 17 caps, had been hopeful of recovering from a back injury that kept him out of the English Super League grand final win over St Helens last weekend.
However, Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington advised New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) that Webb would be having surgery overnight.
Hetherington said Webb had a spinal injury that was likely to rule him out for six months.
Lima, who played three tests last year, has a knee injury which is worse than first thought.
"We've been in touch with both Brent and Jeff and they're obviously devastated," Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said today.
"Webb's situation wasn't looking too good but we all remained hopeful awaiting a final decision.
"Jeff has been troubled by a knee problem but got through the NRL finals and we thought he would be right. However, he had exploratory surgery which has shown the injury is worse than expected."
However, Kearney said Nightingale and Tuimavave were " quality replacements".
" Jason and Evarn were very unlucky to miss out in the first place.
"They've had very good seasons in the NRL, both of them playing in the finals and Evarn being part of a Warriors team that finished the year outstandingly."
Kearney felt he still had plenty of options at fullback.
"Lance (Hohaia) was great there for the Warriors this year, Sam (Perrett) and Krisnan (Inu) both played at fullback for the Kiwis last year and Jason can also cover the position."
Nightingale, 22, made his Kiwis debut in the Centenary Test against Australia in May.
Tuimavave, 24, who has 99 National Rugby League (NRL) appearances to his name, is yet to play for the Kiwis but was in the 19-man squad for last year's Anzac test against the Kangaroos.
Tuimavave was also yesterday called into the All Golds for their match against New Zealand Maori in New Plymouth on Sunday, replacing Sam Rapira who is being rested after playing in all of the Warriors' 27 NRL matches this season.
Revised Kiwis squad
Nathan Cayless (Parramatta, captain), Adam Blair (Melbourne), Greg Eastwood (Brisbane), David Fa'alogo (South Sydney), Nathan Fien (New Zealand Warriors), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors), Krisnan Inu (Parramatta), David Kidwell (South Sydney), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Evarn Tuimavave (Warriors), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Sika Manu (Melbourne), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Steve Matai (Manly), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Sam Rapira (NZ Warriors), Jerome Ropati (NZ Warriors), Setaimata Sa (Sydney Roosters), Jeremy Storm (Melbourne), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra).
- NZPA