SAM TOMKINS knows his head is on the chopping block and that no matter what happens, some people will never be happy that Wigan are playing in Australia.
But the Warriors star believes today’s clash with Hull in Wollongong, some 10,500 miles away, is for the good of Super League.
The clubs will benefit off the field, splitting almost £1million in sponsorship between them, and it could push the English game into new markets.
Wigan owner Ian Lenagan and rugby director Kris Radlinski are two of the driving forces behind the scheme.
However, superstar Tomkins – who himself had a stint Down Under in the NRL – believes the pros outweigh the cons, even though some people are dead against the idea.
He said: “It should be a big thing for the team and the club with the way Kris and Ian put this idea together and brought it to fruition.
“It’s one of those things where you have to put your neck on the line to go and do.
“We want the sport to grow and we get so many people saying, ‘We need it to grow,’ then we say, ‘We’re playing a game in Australia,’ and everyone is kicking up a fuss, saying, ‘We’ll miss a home game.’
“You’re never going to keep everyone happy but the bigger picture is we want the game to grow and in doing that we’re pushing it out to other places.
“We’ve gone to New South Wales, where rugby league is a religion and we’re going to get people watching us and Hull, two of the best teams, so it can only be beneficial.”
About 10,000 fans are expected to watch at WIN Stadium, home of NRL side St George-Illawarra, and potential sponsors are keeping a keen eye on the game.
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