England star Gareth Widdop injured in NRL and looks set to miss Samoa clash

Coach Wayne Bennett is likely to be without Gareth Widdop when England take on Samoa in next month's Test in Sydney.

Around 24 hours after naming his squad for the one-off international on Saturday, May 6, Bennett learned that Widdop was injured during Tuesday's ANZAC Day match between St George Illawarra and Sydney Roosters.

Widdop limped from the field a minute before half-time, with what appeared to be a medial ligament tear.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor said: "You'd have to say yes (he will miss the Test) at this stage, if he's coming off with a knee injury.

"Gareth doesn't like missing footy. Coming off and not being able to run, he wouldn't be playing, I wouldn't think."

Widdop would have been an automatic choice for the match but Bennett may now have to call up a replacement, possibly Warrington hooker Daryl Clark.

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Castleford's Luke Gale and Wigan's George Williams were the only half-backs named in the squad but Bennett still has the option to call up St Helens scrum-half Matty Smith or Warrington duo Kevin Brown and Stefan Ratchford.

Canberra half-back Blake Austin - who qualifies through his grandmother - could also be an option.

The bulk of the England squad will fly out to Australia on Saturday, with the players involved in the Castleford-Wigan fixture catching a flight the following day.