Melbourne Storm Captain Cameron Smith will undergo ankle surgery today.

The decorated hooker aggravated his left ankle syndesmosis injury (a high ankle sprain) in the Four Nations Final against New Zealand in November. The injury has not settled down since the game and following medical advice it’s been decided Smith will undergo surgery.

Smith first suffered this injury in Storm’s Round 26 match against the Broncos and carried the injury into the Club’s Elimination Final the following week against the Bulldogs. The injury healed during the break between Storm’s final game of the season and the Kangaroos going into camp, with the Australian captain fit for the start of the tournament.

Smith, who is due back to training in early January, is expected to be sidelined for 14 weeks, which potentially places him in doubt for the first 3-4 rounds of the season.

Read more at MebourneStorm.com.au