Determined Tomkins looking to prove who is the best

The Wigan full-back has risked incurring the wrath of the Australians and New Zealanders plying their trade in Super League by accusing them of blocking the career path of young English players.

Tomkins believes the Exiles will go into the clash at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium motivated by a need to justify their “massive” salaries.

“They will want to prove they’re the players that make the competition, the overseas players that come over and sign massive contracts and take money off young English lads who are trying to make a living,” said Tomkins.

“We want to prove why we English players are the best in the league.”

Tomkins’s comments come amid continued speculation linking him with a move to the NRL, with South Sydney backer Russell Crowe raising the possibility of him joining the Burgess brothers at the Rabbitohs rather than his anticipated destination of the New Zealand Warriors.

Crowe casually dropped in an invitation for talks during an interview Tomkins carried out for Sky Sports at Wednesday night’s premiere of the new Superman film “Man of Steel” in Leicester Square.

Tomkins, the reigning Super League Man of Steel, took time out from England preparations to attend the event but, as the audience sat down to watch the blockbuster, he was whisked away to rejoin his team-mates as they moved camp from Loughborough to Manchester.

Having missed Wigan’s last match with an Achilles injury, Tomkins was determined to play for his country in a game he believes is crucial in the build-up to the end-of-season World Cup.

“It’s a massive opportunity any time you get to pull on the England jersey,” said Tomkins, who is England’s record scorer with 15 tries from 16 caps.

“The Exiles concept is one I fully back. It’s an important part of our preparation for the World Cup at the end of the year so I certainly didn’t want to miss out on this.

“I want to perform and personally play the best I can. As a team, there is a pressure on us to perform and I’m sure we will.”

England go into tonight’s game seeking to even up the scores after losing two of their first three international Origin encounters.

Despite his criticism of their presence in Super League, Tomkins knows England’s credentials will once more come under careful scrutiny –something he welcomes.

“We need a tough test,” he said. “We don’t want to just beat someone up in the middle of the year like we’ve done with France and Wales. Winning is non-negotiable. We’re not just doing this game for other boys to have a week off, we’ve got to win.”