Warriors and Kiwis captain Simon Mannering has been ruled out of the New Zealand Rugby League side's upcoming tour of England.
Simon Mannering's not so OK for the Kiwis after all. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Mannering, who's played 41 tests for the Kiwis, is suffering from gastric issues that affected him over the closing weeks of the NRL season.
He follows playmaker Kieran Foran as the next high profile player to miss the tour after the 25-year-old was ruled out with ligament damage to his elbow.
Mannering was named in the Kiwis train-on squad last month, but has not taken part in any training sessions while his condition was checked out by Warriors medical staff.
"While tests we've conducted haven't revealed anything to cause alarm, Simon still isn't right to and requires further assessment," Warriors head doctor John Mayhew said.
His withdrawal means coach Stephen Kearney will have to find another captain for this campaign.
"We know Simon wants to be with us and this decision will be a huge blow for him, as it is for us," says Kearney, who will announce his touring team on Thursday.
"But his long-term health is very important to us, especially with the Four Nations scheduled for next year and, of course, the next World Cup in New Zealand and Australia the following year.
"He's our captain and our leader, but we'll still have a strong leadership team to draw on and his absence this time will give us a chance to develop some other players in that role."
The England tour begins on October 23.
