21 Oct 2008

Kiwis suffer injury setback ahead of world cup opener

7:10 pm on 21 October 2008

Injury has forced centre Iosia Soliola to withdraw from the New Zealand rugby league side's world cup campaign, which gets underway against Australia in Sydney on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Sydney Roosters player, has been forced to withdraw with a shoulder injury after a scan showed he risked serious further injury if he played in the tournament.

Having already lost fullback Brent Webb and prop Jeff Lima from the original squad through injury, coach Stephen Kearney says Soliola's loss is a significant setback.

Kearney's called in West Tigers backrower Bronson Harrison who'll be playing for Canberra next season, to replace Soliola, with Setaimata Sa now providing backup in the centres.

Harrison'splayed one tests for the Kiwis, that was against France in 2005.