Sezer and Taylor withdraw

iSelect Titans duo David Taylor and Aidan Sezer have had to withdraw from the Kangaroos train-on squad that will prepare for the upcoming Four Nations tournament because of ongoing injuries.

After being assessed by the Titans medical staff, the pair would be unable to take part in the Prime Minister’s XIII’s clash with Papua New Guinea on October 12 or the Test matches against England, New Zealand and Samoa if selected.

Taylor has not recovered from the neck injury that, combined with a calf problem, saw him play just the last game of the Titans’ season against the Bulldogs after missing the previous three matches.

Sezer suffered a shoulder injury in the match against the Bulldogs and would not be fit to play until a week after the PNG clash.

Other players forced to withdraw from the squad are Dale Copley, Justin Hodges, Matt Gillett (Broncos); Brett Morris, Josh Dugan, Trent Merrin (Dragons); Will Hopoate (Eels); Andrew Fifita, Michael Gordon (Sharks) and Billy Slater (Storm).

The Australian selectors and head coach Tim Sheens today added nine players to the squad, five players from the Cowboys and four from the Sea Eagles. The North Queensland players are Gavin Cooper, James Tamou, Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and Michael Morgan while the Manly players are Anthony Watmough, Brenton Lawrence, Brett Stewart and Daly Cherry Evans.