24 Apr 2014

Hoffman injury scare rocks Kiwis, Broncos

8:00 pm on 24 April 2014

The New Zealand men's rugby league side may be without even one current NRL five-eighth for next Friday's ANZAC Test, after Brisbane standoff Josh Hoffman left Broncos training early with a suspected achilles strain.

That's another blow for Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney, putting the 26-year-old in doubt for the Kangaroos clash in Sydney.

Hoffman will be monitored ahead of Friday night's home NRL match against South Sydney - Ben Barba's likely to play in the No.6 jersey for Brisbane.

Another possible replacement could be Lachlan Maranta - the regular winger was heavily involved in Broncos training on Thursday and has played pivot in the second-tier Queensland Cup in recent weeks.

Former skipper Sam Thaiday has been ruled out of the Souths game with a calf strain.