Sam set for England debut
SAM Tomkins is in line to make his England debut this weekend.
And coach Tony Smith says the 20-year-old will get his chance to stake a claim for a Four Nations spot when the national side takes on Wales in Bridgend this
Saturday.
Tomkins and Wigan skipper Sean O'Loughlin were named in the provisional England squad last week and kept their places when Smith cut it to 24 players at a press conference in Manchester yesterday
afternoon.
Asked about Tomkins' chances of playing for his
country, Smith said: "He'll certainly get a chance against Wales – after that it's down to him and others.
"He's had a tremendous year and achieved a lot in a short space of time, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he does."
With Leeds scrum-half Rob Burrow and St Helens stand-off Leon Pryce among the high-profile omissions from Smith's squad for the Four Nations, it increases the prospects of Tomkins tackling France, Australia and New Zealand in the tournament which begins on Saturday week.
Wigan academy product Tomkins is one of three new faces in the England squad, along with St Helens' Kyle Eastmond and Warrington's Chris Bridge.
"This series is about now and the future – we want the
experience to prepare them for down the track but we also feel that they are ready now," added Aussie Smith, the Warrington coach.
Stand-off Tomkins has enjoyed a sparkling season since bursting onto the Super League scene at the start of this year.
He was named in Smith's squad for the summer Test against France but did not play.
However, since then he has figured in all of Wigan's games and his form was so good he was named Super League's Young Player of the Year last week.
Smith added: "I think that call-up may have helped his self-confidence, even though he didn't play it made him aware that we were looking at him as an international player, and he's certainly of that standard.
"He's level-headed, he knows he's still progressing and needs to work on things, we'll look after him and make sure he's ready for anything we put in front of him. We're confident in his ability."
O'Loughlin was man of the match in his last appearance for his country, when he helped Great Britain complete a 3-0 series whitewash against New Zealand in 2007. He missed last year's World Cup through injury.
Wigan legend and scholarship coach Kris Radlinski is on Smith's coaching staff.
* FORMER Wigan coach Brian Noble is expected to be confirmed Celtic Crusaders' new coach at a press conference in Newport tomorrow. Noble left Warriors at the end of last season after he wasn't given a new contract.
* THOMAS Leuluai has been named on the bench for New Zealand's Test against Tonga tomorrow. Harrison Hansen is expected to start for Samoa against the Cook Islands in Cairns this Saturday.
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South
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Light sleet
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