Thursday 16 April 2015 20:58, UK
With the news that Sam Tomkins is heading back to Wigan, Tom Mordey takes a look at his finest Warriors moments...
The prodigal son returns. Just two years after losing one of their own to the NRL, Wigan have re-signed the world’s most expensive rugby league player – Sam Tomkins.
The full-back admitted homesickness played a key part in his decision to quit the New Zealand Warriors, so the fans in the Cherry and White will hope the DW Stadium will once again witness moments of genius that set Sam apart from the rest. So Wigan fans, put your feet up and go back down memory lane. Here’s some of Tomkins’ best Wigan bits…
Wigan debut
With New Zealand half-back Thomas Leuluai away on international duty, Wigan needed a replacement for their fifth round Challenge Cup tie against Whitehaven. Brian Noble handed a teenage Tomkins a first senior appearance – and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Wigan scorers, so often troubled by the name Tomkins in years to come, inked his name onto the scoresheet three times in the first 12 minutes. Not content with a hat-trick, Sam crossed twice more to complete a five-try haul on debut, helping Wigan to an astonishing 106-8 victory. Although Tomkins played out the rest of the year in the reserves, the Warriors faithful were treated to a little taster of what was to come.
2010 Grand Final
A breakthrough 2009 season saw Tomkins named in the Super League Dream Team and awarded the Super League Young Player of the Year award. Wigan’s latest star was then handed the No 6 shirt by new head coach Michael Maguire, replacing the outgoing Tim Smith.
Despite switching to full-back during the year, Tomkins rewarded Maguire’s faith with a brilliant season, playing every game as Wigan cruised to the League Leaders’ Shield. There was more to come – as Wigan saw off bitter rivals St Helens in the Grand Final showdown at Old Trafford. It was their first title since 1998, and Tomkins scored the try to put the icing on the cake. With a skip and a dummy, Tomkins went through a gap and held off three Saints tacklers to touch down for that first Grand Final winners’ ring.
2012 Man of Steel
Individual accolades were stacking up on the Tomkins mantelpiece, but after missing out to Rangi Chase the previous year, the Man of Steel award still eluded Sam. Wigan actually missed out on silverware in 2012, losing to Leeds in both the Challenge Cup and the play-off semi-finals, but didn’t stop Tomkins impressing his fellow professionals. Twenty nine tries in 26 league games ensured he beat James Roby and Ben Westwood to the prize, recognition for his supreme form throughout the season.
2013 Challenge Cup
With speculation mounting over Tomkins’ Wigan future, a move to the NRL looked all the more likely as the season wore on. But Sam wasn’t prepared to go without a bang. The Challenge Cup final came first – as Wigan beat both Hull FC and the conditions to claim a record 19th victory.
Iain Thornley’s try looked like being the match-winning effort, until Tomkins had the final say. He collected Blake Green’s chip, jinked past four players and touched down in front of the Cherry-and-White masses. Cue pandemonium. That 16-0 win secured Tomkins a second Challenge Cup winners’ medal. But that was just part one of the Tomkins goodbye…
2013 Grand Final
With a move down under to the New Zealand Warriors now confirmed, Tomkins wanted to go out on a high by completing a Challenge Cup and Super League double. In his way stood the Warrington Wolves, still licking their wounds from last year’s Grand Final defeat to Leeds.
Tomkins’ fairy-tale ending looked in tatters before half-time, as Tony Smith’s side led 16-2. But back fought Wigan – and a Blake Green-inspired recovery saw the Warriors score 28 unanswered points to become the first side since St Helens in 2006 to claim the double. And that was Tomkins’ farewell Wigan appearance – claiming his second Grand Final ring, a total he’ll now hope to add to in the coming years.
