Josh Hodgson's World Cup hopes in doubt due to season-ending surgery

England hooker Josh Hodgson will have knee surgery this week which will rule him out for the rest of the NRL season and almost certainly the World Cup. The former and player, 32, who missed the 2017 World Cup final with a knee injury sustained in the semi-final win over Tonga, sustained his latest injury in Canberra Raiders’ opening game of the season.

Raiders club doctor Greg Macleod said: “Josh’s knee injury sustained in round one was a minor injury, however his return to training has since uncovered some instability in his knee which appears to have caused his current injury. After further scans and diagnosis, the decision has been made that it’s the club’s duty of care to Josh for him to have an ACL reconstruction due to a partial tear in his ACL and associated injuries.

“Whilst the club and Josh were optimistic that the injury could be rehabbed without surgery, it is with much considered thought that surgery is the best option for Josh’s long-term health and rugby league career.”

Hodgson, who is leaving the Raiders to join Parramatta at the end of the season, said: “It’s certainly not the way I wanted to finish up at Canberra.

“After a disappointing year last year, it was probably the best I’ve felt this year in terms of my body and I was feeling really fit and really fresh after a good pre-season with no internationals and no rehab. To do it in such a minor way and sustain such a big injury is really frustrating.”