Tomkins lives his dream today
WHEN SAM Tomkins was running around muddy fields in northern England for Wigan a year ago, contemplating his impending move to New Zealand, it was games like today’s against the Roosters that he thought of most.
Tomkins had the reputation as the best player in the Super League, an accolade he deserved. But he wanted to test himself against the very best and for those in the northern hemisphere, the best means the Roosters.
‘‘Over in England they’d be comfortably the most famous team,’’ Tomkins told the Sunday Star-Times.
‘‘If you’d ask a kid up there which NRL they support they’d say the Roosters.
‘‘They’re that glamour team and they’ve got some outstanding players. I knew it would be great to play against them, but I want to beat a good team like that.’’
After a mixed start to his career in the NRL, where blunders on catching high balls and one or two other gaffes blotted his copybook, Tomkins has been impressive for the past couple of months.
When he gets those lanky, long legs moving close to the opposition’s defence he’s a marvel to watch and Warriors fans should be rubbing their hands with glee over what he’ll bring to the club over the next couple of years.
Today he’ll be up against one of the NRL’s best ever, Anthony Minichiello, who’ll be playing his final game in New Zealand.
‘‘He’s a quality player and he’ll go down as being an NRL legend and deservedly so,’’ Tomkins said of the Roosters’ No 1.
‘‘He’s been a great player over a number of years. I remember growing up watching him and seeing him play for Australia, so it will be good to go up against him again.’’
But there will be little room for sentimentality today, as the Warriors have yet another game that could be described as seasondefining. Two weeks ago they were looking good for a charge into the top four. But a scrappy display against the Sharks where they were fortunate to get the win, was followed by a loss to the Knights.
It means they must win two of their remaining three games this season and as they finish up with a tricky away fixture in Penrith after playing the Titans at home, the Warriors can’t afford to slip up against the 2013 Premiers.
Tomkins acknowledges the intensity lifted at training last week because of the situation the club finds itself in and he says that will carry over to the game.
‘‘I think it will be, the position we’re in, where we’re just on the eight,’’ he said.
‘‘We’re playing one of the best teams in the comp, at home, so it’s a massive game for us and it’s a big opportunity more than anything.
‘‘It was disappointing last week, we had to quickly get over it with such a big game this week at home.
‘‘It was obvious our defence wasn’t good enough. We created a WARRIORS v ROOSTERS WHERE & WHEN: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, today, from 2pm (live on Sky Sport 2). LAST THREE MEETINGS: Warriors won: 23-12 (A) ...... 16/06/13 Roosters won: 16-14 (A) ...... 16/03/13 Warriors won: 30-26 (H) ...... 12/05/12 LAST GAME: Warriors: Lost 22-28 v Knights (A) Roosters: Won 48-4 v Tigers (A) FORM: Warriors: LWWLL Roosters: WWWLW TAB ODDS: Warriors: $1.95 Roosters: $1.80 lot of opportunities in attack, but defensively we were lacking, so that’s the area we need to improve on this week.’’
Those who follow the Warriors would have noticed this season that whenever there’s a fracas, Tomkins is invariably in the midst of it and more often than not he’s the protagonist.
That’s not to say Tomkins is a dirty player, but that he won’t accept being pushed around by opposition players just because he’s a skinny, white guy from England.
‘‘I think that’s just bad luck really, nothing more than bad luck,’’ he said of why he happens to so often be involved in pushing and shoving incidents.
‘‘You’ve got to stand up for yourself. I don’t think by any means that I’m someone who likes to get in scuffles, but we play a tough sport and it gets a bit heated at times but I don’t think there is anything in it.’’