Solomona out of Tri-Nations

Wakefield second row forward David Solomona has withdrawn from New Zealand's Tri-Nations squad with an arm injury.

The 28-year-old, one of five Super League-based Kiwis named last Wednesday in coach Brian McClenna's 24-strong squad, says he needs immediate surgery on a torn bicep muscle.

Solomona was a member of the New Zealand team that stunned Australia 24-0 in last November's Tri-Nations final at Elland Road and would have been a key player in their title defence.

He missed the Anzac Test earlier this year because of a mix-up over his passport but won his seventh cap in the Kiwis' 46-14 defeat by Britain at St Helens in June.

"Dave Solomona is such a good man to have in the Kiwi camp that it is a real blow to lose him," McClennan told Auckland's Sunday Star Times.

McClennan, also without another ball-handling forward in Sonny Bill Williams (knee), is likely to call up Queensland-born utility player Nathan Fien if he recovers from a back injury.

The Kiwis held their first training session yesterday at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, venue for the series opener with Australia next Saturday.