Shaun Wane says he is likely to send new signing Joel Tomkins to Workington Town on dual registration to get him back to match fitness.
The 27-year-old returned to Wigan Warriors following three years with rugby union outfit Saracens and Wane says he and his team are working hard to get him back to the level of fitness required in the 13-man code.
However, he is still at least four weeks away from making his eagerly-awaited return after undergoing treatment for a back injury.
Since being unveiled a fortnight ago, Tomkins has been put through a rigourous fitness regime by the Warriors’ conditioner Mark Bitcon and will be now re-introduced to the wrestling techniques used in training by most Super League clubs
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“He’s got bigger already,” Wane said.
“He looks a real athlete now, working in the short period under Mark.
“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.”
