Blanch played for Ireland in the 2008 World Cup

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats winger Damien Blanch will miss the start of Super League XV after injuring his hand against Leeds Rhinos on Boxing Day.

The Australian has had an operation and will be out for between 8-10 weeks

Wildcats coach John Kear told BBC Radio Leeds; "It's bad luck for Damien and a blow for the team but it's a great opportunity for one of the young guys".

Hooker Terry Newton will be out of action for 2-3 weeks after injuring his calf in the same game.

"Our medical staff told us Terry had a negligible tear in his calf and as long as we took him off and kept him off he'd be ok in a couple of weeks.

"If it had been a game of high importance we may have sent him back out there but as it was a trial game the prudent thing was to take him off ," added Kear

For Blanch the game against the Rhinos was his first match back after recovering from a knee ligament injury which kept him out of the second half of Super League XIV.

"He damaged his hand late in the first half, when the doctor looked at it at half-time we felt there was some bone displacement and that proved to be the case," said Kear.

Prop forward Kyle Bibb injured his knee in the same game and suffered a grade two medial tear and will be out for four weeks.

The Wildcats kick-off the new season with a trip to Harlequins on 30 January.

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