As the Grand Final approaches and tensions mount, Sam Tomkins appears more relaxed than ever.
Perhaps it is the knowledge that he will soon be heading to New Zealand as part of a world-record transfer deal, or maybe just the quiet confidence that stages like Old Trafford are built for men with his unique talents. Whatever the truth, it is unlikely to be good news for Warrington.
Wigan’s superstar full back plays his last game in the Cherry and White in Saturday’s title decider. He is desperate to bow out of the British game a winner alongside team-mates Pat Richards and Lee Mossop, who will play in Australia next year.
Relaxed: Tomkins will lead Wigan out in the Grand Final on Saturday
Global star: The full-back's £700,000 fee set a new world record
‘There are going to be some sad faces and some blokes who get dream endings,’ says Tomkins, fully aware Warrington’s Adrian Morley is intent on leaving the Wolves with their first Grand Final triumph.
The unique pressure of determining the champions over 80 minutes is unlikely to faze Tomkins, who has handled his biggest games with astonishing ease. In 2011 he played at Wembley twice, setting up brother Joel for the new stadium’s best try in the Challenge Cup final before repeating the trick with Ryan Hall when England met Australia three months later.
The year before he scored as Wigan beat St Helens in the Super League Grand Final, and only six weeks ago danced his way to a last-minute Wembley try in what could be his final Challenge Cup appearance.
He will not say it, but he is made for games like this. It is why New Zealand Warriors were tempted to pay Wigan £700,000 to secure the 24-year-old’s talents for the next three years.
After months of speculation, Tomkins admits he is pleased to have finalised his plans. He said: ‘The rumours were happening before negotiations and that got boring after a bit, if I’m honest. People were saying, “Why don’t you tell us what you’re doing?” but you can’t if you don’t know what you’re doing yourself. It was nice to get it out there and now everyone’s clear. It means you don’t get the same boring answers to the same boring questions for months on end.
‘I’m going over there unproven in the NRL and anyone should expect to get a bit of stick, but I think I’ll be able to take it. You want to test yourself against the best, and the best players in the world are playing in the NRL at the moment. It’s a big task, but one I’m looking forward to.’
It was to Morley, one of Wigan’s biggest adversaries on Saturday, that he turned for advice. ‘Moz was one of the first people I rang,’ added Tomkins.
Best of enemies: Tomkins lines up against veteran Morley (left) on Saturday
‘I had a chat with him, said what I was thinking about doing and he gave me some good advice. People like Moz and JP (Jamie Peacock) are players you’re expecting to go downhill, have their last year and fade away — but they just don’t.
‘Moz has been a legend over here, gone down to Australia and battered everyone there, and then he’s come back and he’s still doing the same thing. It’s great to have a player like him in Super League.’
Tomkins knows his Super League career is drawing to a close, but he could still leave with two more trophies, with his sights set firmly on a Grand Final and World Cup double.
‘It’s been hard not to look ahead to the World Cup,’ he said, smiling. But first to Old Trafford;
Read more:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/r...e-Grand-Final-2013-preview.html#ixzz2ghgppzX7
Follow us:
@MailOnline on Twitter |
DailyMail on Facebook
