England captain Sam Tomkins hopes his side’s brilliant start to the Rugby League World Cup will get the nation united behind their bid to win the tournament on home soil.
The veteran Catalans Dragons full-back led by example as underdogs England stunned an all-star Samoa side 60-6 at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park, to emerge as big favourites to win their group.
NRL stars Elliott Whitehead and giant 21-year old winger Dom Young scored two tries each as Shaun Wane’s side ran riot in the tournament opener, and Tomkins hopes their statement of intent will prompt a huge surge in interest around the country.
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“When you play for England in your own country you want support and that was by far the biggest support I’ve ever felt,” he said.
“It felt like an occasion with 45,000 people screaming for England, and it made a difference. You could hear it every time they announced the score after we scored a try, it was electric.
“As players you want to play on the big stages and they are made by big crowds. This was certainly the best crowd I’ve felt in an England jersey.”
Tomkins was rested for England’s 50-0 warm-up win over Fiji last week but returned in style at full-back with St Helens star Jack Welsby switching into the halves, where he formed a partnership with Warrington Wolves' George Williams to which Samoa simply had no answer. It was a blistering return to form for Williams after a miserable domestic season with the struggling Wolves, and a performance that did not go unnoticed by his captain.
“I thought we had a lot of players who could have got man of the match but for me George Williams was outstanding,” said Tomkins.
“A lot of things he did are things that you guys [in the press] might not notice. The talk on the field, he really got hold of the team. I’m George’s biggest fan and think he is brilliant when he is on. He’s had a tough season with Warrington and this was the opportunity for George to come and show exactly how good he is, and that is the best half-back in the competition.
“As Shaun said, there are little bits we can do better. We understand we didn’t see the best Samoa team, but we also did plenty of good things.”
What makes England’s huge opening win even more remarkable is that it came from the position of underdogs. The crowd that Tomkins felt buoyed his team was impressive, but it was not full, with organisers falling short of their targeted sell-out. And in truth there was an eerie, subdued silence for most of the first half, thanks perhaps to the unfortunate loss of sound during the much-hyped pre-match ceremony featuring Kaiser Chiefs, dancers and rugby league dignitaries.
But once Young and the effervescent Welsby found their feet, the fans found their voices, and Tomkins hopes that now can propel a tidal wave of interest through the country as was seen during the Women’s Euros in the summer.
“What the Lionesses did has inspired generations of female football players,” Tomkins added. “We have the opportunity now to generate interest and inspire the next generation of rugby league players
“Hopefully this has given everyone the appetite to get behind us. We have proved what we can do and hopefully people will now get behind us because we have a great group here.”
Having gone into the weekend as fifth favourites to win the tournament, England will now be expected to win their group, with games to come against France and Greece before a potential quarter-final with Papua New Guinea.
Both Wane and Tomkins have been telling anyone who will listen that England can win this World Cup. And anyone who watched on Saturday may find themselves less inclined to challenge that bold statement.
England are off to a flier.
*18+ | BeGambleAware
