White, Gidley fit for Kangaroos tour - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

White, Gidley fit for Kangaroos tour

By Ian McCullough 13/10/2009 03:48:48 PM Comments (0)

Kangaroos pair Brett White and Kurt Gidley have confirmed their spots for the Four Nations tournament in Europe after passing fitness tests on Tuesday.

Newcastle and NSW skipper Gidley had been struggling with a calf injury picked up in the Knights' NRL finals defeat to the Bulldogs last month, but the 27-year-old said the problem was never going to be enough to rule him out.

"It was reported that I was touch and go to make the tour but I was always confident it would be fine," he said.

"I think the same goes for the other guys, but it is a tour everybody wants to go on.

"I haven't been on a tour like this before and I can't wait to get into training and getting onto the plane on Friday."

Melbourne prop White had been nursing a shoulder problem he picked up in the Storm's grand final win over Parramatta, and after putting his wedding back to make the tour he said he was never going to miss out.

"I went to see a shoulder specialist this week and he has no concerns at all and obviously if I need anything done we will reassess it after the tour," he said.

"It is a lifetime experience, I have heard older players talk about going on tour and looking at some of the players sitting upstairs (in the hotel) such as Petero Civoniceva I'm looking forward to learning from them."

White said being named in the squad completed the most memorable season of his career in a year that saw him recalled to the NSW side and win a second NRL premiership with the Storm.

"I didn't know where I was going at the start of the year so to be standing here now is such a great thing," he said.

"To have injuries and working through them it is such a positive thing, this is what you work long hours for in the gym and out on the paddock."

White's Melbourne teammate Billy Slater also said there has been no reaction to a hip problem and would also be fit to take his place on the flight to the UK on Friday.

Parramatta second-rower Nathan Hindmarsh is also expected to be given the all clear to tour following a shoulder problem.

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