TOMKINS BACK ON GLORY ROAD
St Helens v Salford Grand Final, October 12, 6pm
LOGAN TOMKINS is in dreamland at finally achieving his Grand Final dream – after having his previous chance agonisingly taken away.
The 27-year-old hooker – part of one of rugby league’s most famous families – was immense as Salford knocked out holders Wigan on Friday.
The underdogs’ 28-4 semi-final victory booked them a sensational Old Trafford showdown with St Helens next Friday.
And for Tomkins, it is the chance to finally experience playing in the biggest game in the domestic calendar.
He was due to be part of Wigan’s 2013 Grand Final-winning team and was warming up in front of a 66,000 crowd.
He said: “It was the end of the warm-up, just before kick-off, when Sean O’loughlin was declared fit and I was pushed out.
“I didn’t mind because he is one of the best players in the world. To be honest, when I was that young, I was slightly relieved as the pressure was unbelievable.”
Tomkins still received a winner’s ring, because he had played enough games throughout the year, and he added: “No one can take that away from me, I don’t care what anyone says.”
Six years on though Tomkins is determined to get a second ring through his own Old Trafford efforts.
He said: “It’s a fairytale but we are not happy just to get there. We don’t want it to be, ‘Do you remember when Salford got to Old Trafford?’ We want it to be, ‘Do you remember when Salford won it’.”
Tomkins has been overshadowed in his career by older brothers Sam and Joel, who have achieved a bagful of honours between them.
While they battled for glory, Logan left Wigan for Salford in 2016 and an epic survival fight.
He said: “Because I’ve been at Wigan where I’ve been successful and then gone to Salford and been involved in that Million Pound Game, you learn to deal with nerves.
“I can cherry-pick things out of experiences and can harness nervous energy.”
Sam was one of the first to celebrate with Logan on Friday and Tomkins added: “I think he was more happy I’d got to Old Trafford than if he had got there. We are all close as brothers.”