Hull will be without Tony Smith for the first two months of the new Super League season after the experienced half-back underwent more surgery.

Smith, 31, has already had an operation to repair wrist ligaments after missing the end of last season as well as the Ashes series against Australia.

Now he has been forced to go under the knife again in order to sort out a long-standing ankle problem.

"It's not what he wanted to hear," said Hull director of rugby Shaun McRae.

Highly-rated player

"The doctors say the recovery time is three months but sometimes players get back inside two from this sort of procedure."

Elsewhere, London Broncos beat the Challenge Cup signing deadline to complete the transfer of Whitehaven stand-off Rob Purdham.

Whitehaven are to receive $40,000 over three years for a highly-rated player who toured South Africa with England Under-21s in October.

Meanwhile, Salford's new Australian signing, prop forward Mark Corvo, has arrived at the Willows and is expected to play against Warrington in a pre-season friendly on Friday.