SAM TOMKINS believes social media pain could prove long-term gain for him, Wigan and England after revealing how he learned he missed out on the World Cup.
The Warriors ace admits he always doubted if he would get into Wayne Bennett’s squad for last year’s tournament.
But he has admitted he did not find out he was out until he read the 23-man party on Twitter like everyone else.
That disappointment, though, meant Tomkins has been able to have his first full pre-season since before he made his club debut and get over the knee injury and broken foot that left the world’s most expensive player a shadow of his former self once and for all.
And proving those who wrote him off wrong and getting his international place, which was his from the season he burst on to the scene, back are top of his priorities list.
Tomkins said: “I didn’t get a call. I found out when the squad was released, there was nothing.
“I didn’t pin all my hopes on it, though. Had Zak Hardaker not been banned, he would’ve been a shoo-in, so I didn’t have my heart set on it and I already had a trip to Dubai planned!
“I just watched the England games, some of the early ones not live as they were early. Primarily, I was a fan wanting them to win but occasionally I spotted things as a player.
“England did well but it’s never nice watching as a fan after you’ve been part of it before. I don’t want to go through that again.
“Getting back in the England team is right up there for this year, 100 per cent.
“And now’s the time to hit the ground running, both my foot and my knee feel good and I don’t need treatment on them now, which just comes with time.
“I felt like I was getting back towards 100 per cent towards the back end of last season and felt more comfortable. I’m ready to go straight back in now.”
Tomkins admits he is likely to switch between playing full-back and stand-off with Frenchman Morgan Escare during the season and has trained in both positions.
The only difference is the way you defend in each position and his shoulders have felt it when he has prepared at number six!
And as Wigan try to get over the disappointment of ‘only’ being world champions last year by winning the World Club Challenge, 28-year-old Tomkins has been put through the chiller.
He added: “It’s been different for me as I’d not had a full pre-season since 2009 before I made my Super League debut.
“I’ve enjoyed it, not every bit though!
“Running up hills at Plantation Gates in Wigan at 7am on a frozen Saturday weren’t enjoyable but in pre-season you get a lot of reps on
the field which help you develop.
“I suppose you can only tell if I’ve kicked on once the games start but I’ve got my body right.
“And only being world champions wasn’t enough. The World Club Challenge is in February, so come October it’s been and gone.
“No-one looks back and goes, ‘Who won the World Club Challenge that year?’ Everyone goes, ‘Who won the Challenge Cup? Who won the Grand Final? They’re the big ones.”
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