The key difference is several. The kiwis do have several key players out, England have one (and let's be honest Tomkins was only in on reputation not form).

I'd go with that. Clearly has the potential to be an international starter.

Any Wigan fans slightly worried by Tomkins? 13 games in 18 months isn't a great record.

It's at least 3. Tomkins, Walmsley and George Burgess. Reed would likely have been in there too.

Reed would be starting centre if fit. So England 4 players out. NZ have Johnson, Foran, Mannering and Taumalolo out, so 4 players each. Yet if England don't win the series 3-0 it would be a failure in some peoples book.

Ashton Golding could be added to the squad. He did a good job against the Kiwis last week.

Thankyou

And this shouldn't be overlooked either imo.

Can't remember when Walmsley has played for England so shouldnt count as a "key" player just yet. Reed again, has two or three caps? Point stands against Burgess. Out of those three I can only.consider Tomkins a key player for his international experience and even then like I said he's blown hot and cold at NZW.

Surely Widdop would go to FB if Hardaker got injured?

Niall Evalds above each of those three.

Walmsley was the best front rower in SL last season and would have been a great asset in this series regardless of his experience.I will give you the fact that both halves missing for NZ means they will probably feel it more than us however, the fact they have no depth there is no fault of Englands.If Hardaker hadn't have emerged then Sam Tomkins missing would be seen as a huge blow too as the depth after that is a level down.

At the end of the day, both sides have several players missing now who would have certainly started and imo it looks pretty even going in.Should still be a great 3 games of RL.

Tomkins has been rated by many observers to be the worst signing in NRL history! So it may work out for the best that he's not available.

At least it won't be game over every time there's a one on one with the fullback, or 50/50 everytime the bomb goes up.

What utter nonsense. Johnson, Foran, Mannering & Taumalolo would all have been in NZ's 17; equally Walmsley, Tomkins, Reed & G. Burgess would have been in England's 17.

In fact, I would argue that Tomkins' absence has the least negative connotations of the four:

Tomkins - we have MOS Zak Hardaker, who, in many people's eyes, should be above Tomkins for FB anyway
Reed - we have had to slot in a back row forward in his absence, such is the dearth of talent at centre
Walmsley & Burgess - would allow us to have a very strong 4 prop rotation along with Graham & Hill (George B is a better prop than Tom B)

Joe Burgess has played quite a bit of rugby at fullback in his junior/academy days, he could play there if required.