sam tomkins

Wigan Warriors player-coach Paul Deacon has said he is concentrating on playing in his first year at the club. The ex-Bradford scrum-half has been appointed by new head coach Michael Maguire as an assistant. He told BBC Radio Manchester: "My official title is player-coach but certainly, for the first year I'm here, playing is my main aim.  

Sam Tomkins has the ability to become one of the game's all-time greats, according to his new Wigan coach. Michael Maguire, the latest occupant of the hottest seat in Super League, heaped praise on the 20-year-old England stand-off at his first press conference yesterday. "I'm excited about helping Sam to improve his football," said the former Melbourne assistant coach.

He can help Sam with his understanding of the game and how to build pressure   -Michael Maguire

 

Is it possible to be uplifted after a 30-point drubbing? Doubtless there will be plenty out there who prefer the hand-wringing, when-are-we-ever-going-to-catch-the-Aussies style adopted in Sky's post-match analysis following the Gillette Four Nations final, and others will talk of a willingness to celebrate gallant defeat epitomising the problems of British rugby league , and sport in general. But I thought the game at Elland Road was bloody brilliant.  

Scrum-half Orford links up with his former Sea Eagles team-mates Steve Menzies, Heath L'Estrange and Glenn Hall at the Bulls after agreeing a three-year deal worth about £700,000.  

AUSTRALIA ran in four converted tries in the last 14 minutes to deflate England and run away with the Gillette Four Nations final.  

Australia restored themselves to the pinnacle of world rugby league with a result that was entirely predictable, but yet was in doubt for 54 minutes of this Four Nations final. England went into a 16-14 lead shortly after halftime when lock Sam Burgess scored his second try, but Billy Slater then shoved his way over from dummy-half to launch a deluge of six Australian tries in the last 26 minutes - three of which fell to the Kangaroo fullback. "We were in with a shot of winning it with 20 minutes to g  

Australia ground down a resurgent England side to record a 46-16 win in the final of the Gillette Four Nations.  

Shaun Briscoe, Peter Fox, Chris Bridge, Michael Shenton, Ryan Hall, Sam Tomkins, Kyle Eastmond, Adrian Morley, Kevin Sinfield, James Graham, Jamie Peacock (capt), Gareth Ellis, Sam Burgess.  

Veteran prop Petero Civoniceva insists Australia must go toe-to-toe with England's highly-rated pack if they are to clinch the Four Nations title on Saturday.  

BRADFORD BULLS struggled yesterday to quash mounting reports captain Paul Deacon is in line for a shock move to Wigan Warriors – and the Odsal club are set to replace their scrum-half with Australian star Matt Orford.