England full-back Sam Tomkins has been ruled out of the three-Test series against New Zealand after failing to recover from a knee injury that has kept him out of the game since August.
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However, his England contract expires after the three games against the Kiwis which starts at his home city of Hull on Sunday, before a second Test at London’s Olympic Stadium the following Saturday and finishing in Wigan on November 13.
The 44-year-old former Hull, Bradford, Huddersfield and Great Britain forward was appointed national coach in 2010 as Tony Smith’s successor after acting as assistant for three years, relinquishing his job as Bulls mentor to work full-time for the Rugby Football League (RFL).
The 26-year-old, who will rejoin Wigan for the 2016 season after homesickness ended his two-year stint with the NRL’s New Zealand Warriors, will not be replaced in the England squad. We want everyone to contribute towards that and I’m in no real rush. “Being an assistant works for me and the aspects of the two jobs complement each other”.
In contrast, McNamara watched an under-strength Leeds Rhinos push the Kiwis hard on Friday before falling 34-16.
He said: “We really have a huge responsibility to enhance our global games”.
“He’s a great bloke as well to be honest, really well balanced, but as with everybody there are things he’s better at and things he’s not so good at but it’s not just about Roger, we’re playing against a really good team at the weekend”.
McNamara added: “We were aware of the injury he sustained back in New Zealand playing for the Warriors but all the information we had was that, if he strengthened the knee to a certain level, he would be fit to play in the first Test”.
“There’s a couple of bumps and bruises from the France game but nothing major”.
“We want to play as many worldwide games as we can so it’s more about working through a few of the issues and problems they have”.
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“I’d look to create more opportunities but the two domestic competitions really need to come together and work out a plan that suits both and produces a meaningful worldwide calendar into the game as the sport needs it”.
