Kieran Foran withdraws from New Zealand squad for England tour

Foran, who is moving from Manly to Parramatta in the close season, has pulled out of the Kiiws' train-on squad in order to rest an elbow injury that has dogged him for much of the 2015 season.

Johnson, a scourge of England over the last two years, was ruled out in the summer with an ankle injury and coach Stephen Kearney has also been denied the services of former Wigan half-back or hooker Thomas Leuluai, who missed the end of the NRL season with a knee injury.

The latest withdrawal might have opened the door for former captain Benji Marshall, but Kearney said on Thursday he would not be going back on his decision to omit the St George Illawarra half-back from his training squad.

That means Kearney will almost certainly turn to rookies Tuimoala Lolohea, of New Zealand Warriors, and Brisbane Broncos' Kodi Nikorima as his halves pairing for the tour, which starts with a match against Leeds at Headingley on Friday, October 23 before the first of three Tests in Hull on Sunday, November 1.

Kearney also suggested Manly's wing or full-back Peta Hiku and Melbourne Storm utility forward Tohu Harris could be other options in the playmaking roles.

With regular winger Manu Vatuvei and experienced prop Jared Wharea-Hargreaves also ruled out through injury, Kearney's touring squad will have a youthful look when it is announced next Thursday.

The Sydney Roosters trio of Matt McKilwrick, Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Isaac Liu are the latest players to be brought into the train-on squad. Auckland-born loose forward Liu has won three caps for Samoa.

Club-mates Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Sam Moa have also joined the squad, along with Melbourne Storm players Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris and Kevin Proctor, following their clubs' exit from the NRL play-offs. That takes the total so far to 31, which will be whittled down to 23 after Sunday's Grand Final between the Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys in Sydney.