SAM Tomkins has revealed England’s rugby league side turned to football to make sure he is fit for the World Cup.
And he admits his Catalans side getting knocked out of Super League’s play-offs in the first round may be a good thing.
The national skipper described himself as ‘limping through’ until the end of the season because of a knee problem.
However, he is fully fit and firing to led his country to what they hope is a home World Cup triumph, after a visit to Blackburn Rovers confirmed everyone’s hopes.
Full back Tomkins said: “I almost had to limp through the end of the season. I had an injury that meant I couldn’t really play back-to-back games.
“In terms of my playing for England, it was almost a blessing that Catalans got knocked out in the first play-off game.
“It’s given me a really good window. Now I’m in full training and back to normal.
“If we’d gone further, it would’ve been more awkward for England. It was an injury that needed rest, so had we gone a further two weeks, I’d have been a further two weeks behind at this point
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“England also has an amazing medical set-up. I’ve been seeing all the best specialists, all the best technology, all the latest gadgets to make sure.
“I also went to Blackburn Rovers to do some tests and all the results were really positive. Just having the access to things like that has made sure I’m ready.”
Tomkins is the only certainty in boss Shaun Wane’s 24-man squad, which will be named today but he hinted more than two Catalans players will join him after detailing how England and France players trained on the same pitch.
He added: “We had an England programme that we had to follow in France for another week, so we trained at our stadium – the French lads were doing the same with their programme.
“The other Catalans players that are in the squad arrive this weekend. I’m staying at a hotel in Salford. There was no spare bed at my mum and dad’s!”
Tomkins, 33, admits he is not sure whether he will play in England’s warm-up against Fiji next Friday but he is certain of one thing, whoever does take the field will be the best.
He said: “There’s going to be some players who don’t make the squad that are top, top quality. We’ve got no excuses, the pressure’s on the players now. We’ve got to deliver.”
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