England's World Cup plans have been rocked with St Helens duo Jonny Lomax and Mark Percival both ruled out of the tournament.
Boss Shaun Wane names his 24-man squad on Friday morning with England due to kick-off against Samoa in a little over a fortnight’s time. But the pair won’t be included after each succumbing to injury. The loss of stand-off Lomax, especially, is a significant blow given he was earmarked to be Wane’s main playmaker and has been so influential in helping Saints to a fourth straight Grand Final win.
But the 32 year-old has played most of this campaign with a ruptured biceps and will now get that fixed. Centre Percival had missed a big chunk of the Super League season with a problematic knee issue. He returned for their semi-final win against Salford and scored in Saturday’s Grand Final success over Leeds but had said previously about being concerned whether he would be fit enough to feature in the World Cup.
However, uncapped Brisbane Broncos centre Herbie Farnworth - who was on the books of Manchester United as a kid and hasn’t played since suffering his own biceps injury in June - will get the nod. Salford star Kallum Watkins is also firmed up in Wane’s plans: he’s been a revelation at second-row this term as the Red Devils got to within 80 minutes of Old Trafford but could also revert to his traditional role of centre.
Salford team-mate Marc Sneyd, the experienced scrum-half, is expected to be drafted into Wane’s squad for a potential Test debut at the age of 31 along with club-mate Andy Ackers who has excelled at hooker for them this term. England's half-back options now look like resting mainly around George Williams, Sneyd or potentially Jack Welsby, the Super League Young Player of the Year who has excelled alongside Lomax for Saints this term.
