Melbourne's Hoffman sidelined

Melbourne Storm backrower Ryan Hoffman has undergone surgery on his ankle which will rule him out for the remainder of the NRL season and the rugby league World Cup.

Hoffman first sustained the injury in Round 23 against the Sydney Roosters at Olympic Park, and he subsequently missed the next two games.

He returned for the final home-and-away game against the Rabbitohs, and played in the qualifying final defeat to the Warriors, and the semi-final win over the Broncos.

However the high ankle sprain progressively worsened and in the end the decision was made for Hoffman to have surgery.