England coach Steve McNamara is still hopeful Gareth Widdop will be available for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, despite the Storm star suffering a gruesome dislocated hip late last month.
Widdop was stretchered from the field in agony during Melbourne's 18-12 loss to Gold Coast in round 15, and Storm coach Craig Bellamy later ruled his five-eighth out for the rest of the year.
But McNamara, who is in Australia to brief his NRL-based players on England's World Cup preparations, is still hoping Widdop will represent the Lions at the end-of-season tournament.
"Look, he's very positive. He's not ruled out just yet," McNamara told the SportsFan Clubhouse.
Catch the full interview with Steve McNamara here.