MELBOURNE // The Australia utility back Kurt Gidley has a knee injury which has ruled him out of the remainder of the Rugby League World Cup. Gidley was injured in Sunday's 30-6 win over New Zealand. Scans confirmed he had knocked a small piece of cartilage off the joint surface of the patella in his left knee. He was expected to have surgery next week, team officials said. "It's a bitterly disappointing way to end the season, especially off the back of our strong performance against the Kiwis (last) Sunday night," Gidley said. "The squad has gelled really well and I'm just devastated I won't be able to take any further part in the tournament."
Meanwhile, the star halfback Johnathan Thurston is in doubt to play England on Sunday due to a shoulder injury. Thurston starred against New Zealand despite the death of his uncle, who was allegedly attacked in a park, two days earlier. Results of scans should be known Wednesday. Thurston had surgery on both shoulders at the end of the 2007 season. *AP