Tomkins might play for Workington

Joel Tomkins needs to get much fitter in order to make a return to Super League, according to Wigan coach Shaun Wane.

The 27-year-old backrower has just returned to Wigan after a three-year spell with Saracens in rugby union.

Playing the other code has seemingly had something of a negative effect on the player’s rugby league abilities, but Wane is confident that Tomkins can be the player he once was again.

Wane also might send Tomkins to Workington for a spell in the Championship, to help sharpen him up again.

“He’s got bigger already,” said the coach.

“He looks a real athlete now, working in the short period under Mark [Bitcon, Wigan director of performance].

“He didn’t look like the Joel Tomkins who left when he came back in, which is unbelievable. But he’s getting there now. He looks fantastic now. He seemed huge within a week.

“I’m not going to rush him or pressure him in any way.

“I’ve told him that because I know what he’ll be like, he’ll be itching to play. He won’t play before he’s ready, even if we’ve got lots of injuries.

“He might go to Workington to get some match-fitness. He’s not wrestled since he went to Saracens so he needs to get into the grind.”