KEY POINTS:
Benji Marshall has gone under the knife again, ruling him out of the Kiwis tests against Australia, Great Britain and France in October and November.
The 22-year-old Wests Tigers five-eighth has had three shoulder reconstructions since making his debut in 2003 but this was planned surgery to add
bone to the socket he fractured earlier this season.
He is now in a sling for four weeks and won't be able to take part in contact work for three months. The Tigers are encouraged by the fact that this summer will be his first full off-season for some time.
It wasn't the news Gary Kemble had hoped for so soon after taking over as Kiwis coach but he understood the need for Marshall to overcome his shoulder problems.
"We're disappointed, of course, because he was keen to play for the Kiwis but long-term, he has to get it right and the long-term goal for us is the World Cup," Kemble said.
"The club said he had to have the operation straight away so he's got plenty of time to recover."
Marshall has become the fourth top player to be ruled out of Kiwis contention, following the season-ending injuries to Jerome Ropati (shoulder) and Manu Vatuvei (knee) and the long-term suspension of South Sydney second-rower David Fa'alogo.
Kemble received some good news this week when Sonny Bill Williams copped only a one-week suspension for his high shot on Johnathan Thurston, which he served last night.
While injuries are likely to crop up in the next few weeks, Kemble isn't aware of any other players booked in for off-season surgery.
"Not at this stage," he said. "Everyone else we have spoken to has made themselves available."
The New Zealand selectors are due to announce early this week a train-on squad from players whose clubs had already been eliminated from the NRL playoffs. It's likely to include Dragons youngsters Rangi Chase and Chase Stanley, both of whom have committed to the Kiwis.
Dragons team-mate Jason Nightingale might also be included. Kemble has been told by the player's manager that the 21-year-old, who was born in Hamilton and has been through the Dragons system, was keen to wear the black jersey.
He played 16 first-grade games on the wing this season but is more accustomed to fullback, a position in which the Kiwis have traditionally struggled for depth.
* The NZRL are yet to decide whether to invite Johnathan Thurston to play for the All Golds. There had been an expectation the Dally M medallist would be invited to play the Dally Messenger role but NZRL general manager Peter Cordtz said they would wait until the Cowboys' season was finished before deciding.