Fullback Sam Tomkins is enduring something he hasn’t experienced much in his rugby league career – watching from the sidelines because of injury.

Tompkins will again be absent when the Warriors face Gold Coast in Robina on Saturday after an early decision was made to rule him out.

Before the previous two NRL rounds, the England international was named in the side, only to be a late withdrawal.

A big-money signing from Wigan, Tomkins played in all 24 matches in his debut season with the Warriors in 2014.

This year, he has managed just three appearances.

Tomkins says he has been lucky with injuries in the past.

“I think in six years playing in England, I only missed five games,” he said.

“For me, it’s difficult. It’s not something I’m used to, so I’ve had to learn to watch.”

Tomkins sat out the season-opening loss to Newcastle with a hamstring problem, then suffered a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the round-three victory over Parramatta.

He missed seven matches before aggravating the injury in the win over the Knights in late May.

He’s frustrated the knee is taking longer to get right than hoped.

“It’s getting stronger week after week,” he said.

“It has been a steady progression, just pretty slow.”

Tomkins, 26, will rejoin Wigan at the end of the season, the Warriors having secured Roosters fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as his replacement.

With 10 round-robin matches remaining after this weekend and the Warriors sitting just outside the top eight, coach Andrew McFadden is eager to have Tomkins on the field for as much possible, describing him as “a class act”.

“People probably don’t understand what he gives us in terms of leadership and direction,” McFadden said.

“He just takes that pressure off our halves. He can make a big impact.”