Hull hooker Heremaia suffers injury setback

The 29-year-old, who joined the Black and Whites in the close season from New Zealand Warriors, damaged a disc in his spine during the club’s pre-season friendly against Hull KR.

He was hoping to make his comeback against Bradford tomorrow, but received a setback while waiting for final clearance.

“We have looked at a number of ways to get Aaron back,” said coach Peter Gentle.

“He has felt good and made progress and even trained with us with a view to returning this week.

“However, we had a final sign-off with the medical staff and specialist this week and, with his injury being so close to his spinal cord, any wrong knock or tackle during a game could do irreparable damage and it’s simply not worth it.

“We’ll get him in for an operation and straight into rehab and hopefully have him back and fresh and ready to go for the final three months of the season.”

Hull will also be without prop Sam Moa for the foreseeable future after he returned home to Australia on compassionate grounds.

With full-back Wade McKinnon joining Mark O’Meley and Joe Westerman on the sidelines after picking up a groin injury in last Sunday’s win over Castleford, Gentle could hand debuts to Chris Green and Liam Kent against Bradford while England international centre Kirk Yeaman has been provisionally included after foot surgery.

Huddersfield’s former Australian international back-row forward Luke O’Donnell is poised to end a seven-month injury lay-off against Leeds at Headingley tomorrow.

O’Donnell has not played since suffering a damaged cruciate knee ligament at St Helens last August but the Giants are missing captain Kevin Brown, out for a month with an ankle injury.

Sheffield Eagles host Halifax tonight at Bramall Lane in the Co-operative Championship. Tim Bergin (hip) is missing for Sheffield, while Ryan Fieldhouse, Sean Penkywicz, Adam Robinson and Paul Handforth return for Halifax.