Stefan denied shot at Kiwis

STEFAN RATCHFORD has been dropped for the first Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

The Warrington full-back has had an outstanding season and was man of the match in their Grand Final defeat by Wigan at Old Trafford.

But he missed out on a place in Wayne Bennett’s 19-man England squad yesterday to Sam Tomkins, who is back in for the first time since 2014.

Tomkins, who will play for Catalan Dragons next season, aims to add to his 23 caps, the last of which he won against New Zealand four years ago.

Bennett has selected 11 of the 17 players who played in June’s 36-18 victory over the Kiwis in Denver.

Tom Johnstone also misses out along with Reece Lyne, Adam Milner and Joe Greenwood.

Oliver Gildart could make his debut after he was unavailable against France last week, having been involved for Wigan in the Grand Final. Bennett’s men take on the Kiwis in a three-match series beginning at the KCOM Stadium in Hull, with further games taking RECALL: Sam Tomkins is back in the England squad for Saturday’s game place at Liverpool’s Anfield and Elland Road in Leeds.

ENGLAND SQUAD:

Leeds forward Jamie Jones-Buchanan is hoping his fearless reputation can rub off on England’s young stars. The 37-year-old is media manager on the Knights’ twoTest tour to Papua New Guinea which starts on Saturday and said: “This tour will take the players out of their comfort zones and give them some really tough new challenges. “The conditions will be like nothing they have ever experienced before and it will be challenging. “I still play alongside, and against, all of these players so I know what they are going through and they will be able to talk to me about it.” Warrington Wolves’ Jack Hughes will lead the Knights in their first game against PNG in Lae on Saturday.