Fuifui Moimoi is out of New Zealand's Four Nations campaign with a broken arm, handing a likely debut to Penrith prop Sam McKendry. Team doctor Simon Mayhew said Moimoi, 31, would be sidelined for at least six weeks after scans revealed a fracture high up the radius in his right arm. Moimoi's withdrawal further weakens the Kiwi's pack after damaging Warriors prop Sam Rapira pulled out for personal reasons. Mayhew said Moimoi had complained of pain near his right elbow. He was sent for scans with results being returned on Friday on the eve of the Kiwis assembling in Auckland to prepare for their one-off Test against Samoaon October 16 and the Four Nations to follow. With Moimoi ruled out, the national selectors immediately called in McKendry a player Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney rated unlucky to miss selection initially. McKendry was originally named in the New Zealand Maori team to face England in next Saturday's curtain-raiser to the Kiwis' Test against Samoa at Mount Smart Stadium. McKendry, 188cm and 115kg, played in all of Penrith's 26 games this year after making his debut last season, his only appearance in 2009. The 21-year-old's selection means the Kiwis have three potential debutants in their 23-man squad after Lewis Brown and Antonio Winterstein were named in the original team on Tuesday. | |
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