Thursday 1 December 2016 19:30, UK
Hull Kingston Rovers will be without the services of Matty Marsh and Joe Wardill for the start of the 2017 season after the young duo were ruled out long-term.
Marsh has suffered a multi-ligament knee injury during a wrestling session in pre-season training and will undergo surgery before Christmas.
He faces nine months rehabilitation while Wardill has had an operation to remove pieces of bone from his pelvis and leg and could be out for six months.
Wardill's problem is a naturally occurring one rather than the result of an injury but surgery was deemed essential to avoid any further long-term damage.
Head coach Tim Sheens said: "This news is a shame for both players individually and for the team as a whole.
"I've told Matty this is just a temporary setback to his career and he'll use the time to improve his body and set himself up for the future.
"Joe is going to return sooner than Matty and credit it to him for playing with these growths on his hips for the last few years. However, full-time training in pre-season has exposed the issue and this is the right time to get it corrected."
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