England full-back Sam Tomkins believes he has a lot of improving to do if he is to show the NRL his full potential, and blames feeling tense for his ‘up-and-down’ start to his career down under.
In his regular New Zealand Herald column, the Warriors player wrote: “I’ve had an up-and-down start in the NRL. There are little bits in attack that are working but, overall, I have a lot of improving to do.
“There have been a few errors that are inexcusable and things I have never done before. It’s getting those out of my game and relaxing into it a little bit.
“I have felt more tense than normal but it’s such a different environment and there’s a lot more to think about. It’s not as easy going into games. That will get better as I get used to players and bed myself into the team.
“That’s been one of the most difficult things. I had been playing in the same side for five or six years and knew my teammates inside and out but here I’m not only getting used to different opposition but also playing in a different team.
“The rules are also slightly different and the speed of the game is faster compared to Super League where there’s a bigger emphasis on the wrestle.
“There’s also the travel – there are about 10 teams within 10km of Wigan – and defences in the NRL are more structured. No team has a poor defensive line.
“In Super League there are a few teams at the lower end of the league who, if you put the right plays on, you know you will get the right result.”
