24 October 2023 , 18:10
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England duo Dom Young and Morgan Knowles have both been ruled out for the remainder of the three-game series against Tonga.
Newcastle Knights winger Young - the NRL’s top try-scorer - had to have an abscess drained last week and remains in hospital, meaning he will play no part this autumn.
St Helens loose forward Knowles picked up a thumb injury in Sunday’s 22-18 first Test victory at the Totally Wicked Stadium and after seeing a specialist has been ruled out for the next two weeks.
Head coach Shaun Wane, already without suspended captain George Williams, is down to 21 players for Saturday’s second Test at Huddersfield.
But he will not add anyone to the squad for that game or the final game against Tonga at Headingley on Saturday 4 November. He said: “Despite losing two players, I am still extremely confident that the squad I have selected is strong enough to win this series against Tonga.
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“Tom Johnstone and Tommy Makinson both impressed me at the weekend, and we have another terrific winger in Matty Ashton who is pushing to force his way into the side.
"We’ve also got a number of forwards who can slot into the team in Morgan’s absence – Tyler Dupree, Robbie Mulhern and Liam Farrell all didn’t feature this past weekend and could come in.”