Four Nations
Dates: 23 October - 13 November Coverage: Live coverage and highlights on BBC One and BBC Two, BBC Sport website and BBC 5 live sports extra
 Morley's tournament is over before it had begun |
England captain Adrian Morley has been ruled out of of the forthcoming Four Nations with a serious arm injury. The inspirational prop ruptured his right biceps in the sixth minute of the tourists' 18-18 warm-up draw with New Zealand Maori in Auckland on Saturday. He is flying home for surgery, leaving England to find a new captain ahead of next week's opener against New Zealand. "I'm absolutely gutted and am still coming to terms with it," said the Warrington Wolves captain. "I've been around long enough to accept injuries are a part of every sportsman's life but this one has left me devastated.  | 606: DEBATE |
"I knew as soon as it happened that it was serious. It was just an accidental bang to my arm but the pain was excruciating. "It's important now that I get myself right for next season. I've been told that recovering from the operation will be a long slow process but I'm determined to come back stronger than ever. "It will be really tough watching the Four Nations on TV back in the UK but I'll be rooting for the boys. There's a massive depth of ability in this England squad and I have no doubts they can have a successful tournament without me." Morley was second-choice skipper after Jamie Peacock was ruled out with a knee injury several weeks ago. England are entitled to replace an injured player before the start of the tournament, which also features Australia and Papua New Guinea, and Warrington prop forward Garreth Carvell will fly out as a direct replacement for Morley. "It's really tough on Moz and on England," said coach Steve McNamara. "Adrian is a fiercely proud Englishman and I know how much captaining his country in the Four Nations meant to him. "What's important now is that we do the right thing by Adrian and the right thing by England. As soon as we can get him home to have the operation he needs we will do so. "I have a lot of faith in this group of players and the loss of a player who commands the respect Adrian does has strengthened their resolve to do well in the Four Nations."
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