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Rugby League

Leeds lose Lauitiiti

18/05/2007

New Zealand and Leeds second row Ali Lauitiiti will miss up to six weeks of the Super League season after it was revealed he has torn a ligament in his knee.

The 27-year-old Rhinos forward has been suffering from a series of "niggling injuries" for several weeks since he strained his medial ligament against Wigan Warriors on April 10th.

Club physiotherapist Meirion Jones said he had undergone keyhole surgery in order to clean out the knee after complaining of minor discomfort in recent fixtures and the tear was discovered during the operation.

And while Lauitiiti's latest set-back was not linked to his earlier injury, it still means he will be sidelined for at least a month, Jones added.

"Ali has a small tear that will recover with a period of rest and rehabilitation," he said.

"However, he is likely to be out of action for between four and six weeks depending on how the injury responds to treatment."

Leeds are currently top of the Super League after 13 matches, two points ahead of St Helens and Bradford Bulls in second and third, respectively.

This Sunday the Rhinos play Hull FC at the KC Stadium as they look to continue their excellent start to the season.

Although they will be without Lauitiiti, Jordan Tansey, the scorer of the controversial winning try against Bradford at the Millennium Stadium two weeks ago, returns to the squad after missing last week's Challenge Cup defeat to Wigan.

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