That's made SM selection a whole lot easier. The worrying part for me is not that he's out but there is no replacement in the squad. It leaves us very light in the backs.

Incredible that a third specialist full-back wasn't chosen given the obvious injury cloud over Tomkins, but that said England aren't exactly overrun with options in the position.

Anything happens to Hardaker and I presume Watkins would switch there, having done so for Leeds in the past.

Shyte anyway!

The news just gets better, that's another player out that I was looking forward to watching...

Just if and obviously we all hope he doesn't but if Zak Hardaker was to pick up an injury where would we be with regards to specialist available full backs I think it would be a choice between playing someone out of position or Ryan Hampshire, Kieren Dixon or Jamie Shaul - hardly international options.

Cudjoe and Watkins only other players who have played full back

We are already playing Bateman who is really a back rower in the centres because our other centres aren't very good so moving Watkins to full back would leave us with a hole in the centres.

Let's just hope for an injury free series for our remaining backs

Widdop, or Cudjoe will replace ZH if anything should happen.

Well as it look, its Bateman and Watkins at centre, so if Watkins went to full back cudjoe would slip into right centre position

Lets think positive and think the whole England squad will stay fit.

Without being negative, to play three tests in three weeks against NZ without getting an injury is a lot to hope for. If a back rower or half gets injured we have plenty of squad cover. If Hardaker, a 3/4 or a prop gets injured we don't.

I'd give Percival a call. Excellent centre and more than capable full back who would give good cover and it would be a beneficial experience for him to be involved as IMO he is an international of the future.

so not just the Kiwis with several key men missing after all.

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.