Brisbane pair Sam Thaiday and Justin Hodges have been ruled out of Australia’s end-of-season Test against New Zealand due to injury.
Broncos captain Thaiday, who has been a regular feature of the Kangaroos side since 2009, underwent surgery on a shoulder injury on Wednesday.
A veteran of 17 Tests, the hard-running backrower struggled with the injury through the second half of the NRL season but will be fit for the start of the 2013 season in March.
Hodges, who has won each of his 12 Tests with the Kangaroos, will not take his place in the Australian side for the October 13 match in Townsville due to a recurring back injury.
Both Thaiday and Hodges were part of the Kangaroos run-on side in Australia’s 20-12 triumph over the Kiwis in the Anzac Test in April.