91Èȱ¬

Warrington head coach Tony Smith says prop Ben Evans is likely to be out for the rest of the season following surgery on a ruptured hamstring.

The 22-year-old Wales international was injured in Wolves' 32-24 loss at Super League leaders St Helens on Thursday.

He spent the weekend in London, where he underwent the operation, before returning to Warrington on Sunday.

"He's not great, that's his season done," Smith told the 91Èȱ¬'s Super League Show.

"Unfortunately it wasn't an intentional tackle but it's a method that is very dangerous for players and it's gone wrong."

But St Helens coach Keiron Cunningham has dismissed Smith's suggestion that the injury came as a result of foul play.

"I respect Tony highly as a person and as a coach, but something I am totally anti is trying to purposely injury players," said Cunningham.

"That, for me, was unfortunate. It was just an unfortunate tackle that happened. It looks like sour grapes from Tony to me. I think if you ask Tony now, he would be a bit different about it.

"None of my players intentionally go out to do anything to anybody. That just isn't how I am as a coach. If a player did that, then he wouldn't be playing the week after."

The initial diagnosis had been that Evans could be back within four months, meaning he could possibly have been available from late July onwards.

Evans joins twin brother Rhys, a team-mate at Warrington, on the sidelines after the winger underwent shoulder surgery in February.