SAINTS wing Tommy Makinson may be missing the Great Britain tour - and therefore will be unable to defend his Golden Boot - but his replacement is keen to make up for the loss.
Makinson, who was international player of the year in 2018, was forced to pull out of the trip after dislocating a shoulder in St Helens' Grand Final triumph.
That has left Jermaine McGillvary and former Leeds favourite Ryan Hall as the only specialist wing men in Wayne Bennett's 24-strong squad and, as a result, automatic picks for the opening game against a Tongan Invitational XIII in Hamilton on Saturday.
The pair have been prolific for England - Hall holds the record for most tries with 35 in 38 appearances - but McGillvary, who has scored 12 in 17, accepts that one of them would have been forced to make way for a fit Makinson.
"Tommy is the best winger in Super League and one of the best wingers in the world," McGillvary said. "For sure he would be a starting winger.
"It's unfortunate that he's not here, but me and Hally get the chance and hopefully we can do it justice because he was outstanding in the Test series last year and he's been outstanding all through the season as well."
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