Melbourne winger Xavier Coates is returning to Australia after a hamstring injury ruled him out of Papua New Guinea's Rugby League World Cup campaign.
Coates was a late scratching from the Kumuls' narrow opening loss to Tonga after picking up the complaint in their captain's run.
The Storm flyer hadn't played for the Kumuls since 2019.
While the winger was hopeful he could return for next week's group game against the Cook Islands, scan results showed he would be unable to play in the tournament.
With that in mind, PNG officials have sent the 21-year-old back to Australia.
It's a similar fate for fullback Edene Gebbie, who was one of the standouts in the Prime Minister's XIII game last month.
Gebbe won't feature again due to a groin/pelvis issue and PNG officials are weighing up whether to bring in reinforcements.
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