England star Sam Tomkins is happy to shoulder his share of responsibility in Sunday’s must-win clash against Australia.
The Wigan half-back or full-back is seen as England’s main attacking threat as they bid to bounce back from last week’s 24-10 defeat to New Zealand in the Four Nations opener.
But Tomkins said: “There’s pressure on me, just the same as there is on everybody else in the team.
“When you are representing your country, you’ve got to perform. I don’t think I’ve got any added pressure as such, we’ve got threats from all across the field.”
The 21-year-old Tomkins, Super League’s young player of the year for the last two seasons, will win his seventh cap on Sunday – his third against the Kangaroos.
He added: “I feel nervous, like anyone would, but I’m comfortable at this level. I’ve not got too many issues with it now.
“It’s the biggest test there is to play against Australia but, if you want to be one of the best players, you’ve got to play against the best.
“It will be a privilege to play against people like Darren Lockyer and Billy Slater, it’s something I love to do.”
Tomkins does not yet know whether he will line up against the Kangaroos in his customary half-back role or his new-found position of full-back.
He switched from one to the other in the defeat by the Kiwis after the injury to centre Michael Shenton forced coach Steve McNamara to re-shuffle his backs.
Happy
“I’m not too sure yet, it’s still early in the week,” he said. “I’m happy where ever I play, I suppose.
“I enjoy full-back a lot. There is a lot of running. It’s where I want to play really but I’m happy to play stand-off.”
Wigan’s former Melbourne assistant coach Michael Maguire made the decision to try Tomkins out at full-back, but it was another Australian, ex-Test stand-off Trent Barrett, who first came up with the idea during his spell with the Warriors three years ago.
“Early on in the year Madge (Maguire) just said I think you’d go well at full-back,” revealed Tomkins at the England team’s city-centre hotel.
“A couple mentioned it before. When Trent Barrett was at Wigan he always used to say ‘you’ll end up at full-back, definitely’.
“I never took him on but Madge said this year he wanted to give me a go there and it worked out alright for the team.
“Long-term maybe I’ll move there, I’m not too sure. I wouldn’t want to concrete myself to one position at 21 really. It would be a bit daft to do so. I’m happy for now to play there whenever I’m asked.”
