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SYDNEY - There was more pain for Kiwis centre Steve Matai last night with news he could miss the trans-Tasman league test due to shoulder surgery.
Just minutes after being named in the 19-man Kiwis squad in the wake of Manly's 8-34 National Rugby League (NRL) grand final loss to Melbourne, a downcast Matai admitted he was resigned to a stint on the sidelines at the insistence of his club.
"I'm definitely keen to play the test, it's just whether I can or not," said Matai, who played three Kiwis tests last year.
"It's not every day you get to represent your country so I'd like to put it (surgery) off. I'd definitely be disappointed to miss out... but the club will have the final say in it. "
Manly team doctor Paul Bloomfield confirmed Matai required arthroscopic surgery on an injury that has troubled him for much of the season.
The decision would be made after Matai visited a shoulder specialist later this week but the Manly club's preference was not to wait any longer, given the extended recovery time.
"He's been nursing it all year, in between his neck injury and everything else. He does have a cartilage tear in his shoulder, with a cyst that's got slightly larger," Bloomfield said.
"Immediate surgery would be best because it may take 3-4 months to get over it. "
Aucklander Matai, 23, is contracted to the Sea Eagles until 2010.
The Kiwis play the Kangaroos in Wellington on October 14.
Last night Matai sat in a quiet corner of the dressing room, right boot removed and limping badly with a bruised heel, as he struggled to digest what went on in his first NRL grand final.
"We just turned over too much ball and when you give a side like Melbourne too much ball you're going to get hurt," he said.
"We couldn't really hear each other, the crowd was that loud. "
On a night where his teammates went largely missing in action, Matai produced two of the biggest plays for the beaten brigade at a packed Telstra Stadium.
Matai left Storm prop Brett White dazed in the 11th minute with a legitimate front-on tackle that jolted his head backwards.
Then just 30 seconds before halftime, Matai gave the hordes of Manly supporters hope when he fended off Storm giant Israel Folau, dummied wing Steve Turner and dived over to make it 4-10 at the break.
But there were few other highlights, with Manly coach Des Hasler best summing it up.
"We saved one of our worst performances for the biggest stage of the year. "
- NZPA
