Calf tear ends Mitchell Moses' World Cup campaign
Canberra five-eighth Ethan Strange will join Australia's 23-man squad as the replacement for the injured Parramatta playmaker.
Australia will be without Mitchell Moses for the rest of its Rugby League World Cup title defence after scans confirmed a high-grade calf muscle tear. The Parramatta playmaker was injured in the Kangaroos' opening match, a 24-22 victory against New Zealand in Sydney.
Moses tried to continue playing but came off before the second half was two minutes old. His absence follows that of Nathan Cleary, who is sidelined by a serious leg injury.
Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said Moses, 32, was disappointed that his tournament had ended. Walters praised his contribution during Australia's Sydney preparation camp and his attempt to keep playing despite the injury.
Ethan Strange, Canberra's five-eighth, will take Moses' place in the 23-man squad. Walters is set to change his line-up for the next pool game, against Fiji in Brisbane, with Sam Walker and Tom Dearden forming the halves combination.
Moses had changed his international allegiance for this tournament, joining Australia after leading Lebanon as captain at the 2022 World Cup.
