Tomkins sees youngsters pushing for spots

Sam Tomkins expects many of the Warriors’ young brigade to press their claims during the NRL season.

Competition for positions is one of the features of the Auckland-based club’s 2015 squad.

“I think it’s brilliant,” Tomkins said.

“We’ve got a lot of youngsters. Some were on display in the Auckland Nines and I think they will be pushing for places.

“We’ve got a pretty healthy squad. With some luck, we can keep it like that and make sure that, come the season, we’ve got competition in every spot.”

Tomkins cited the likes of Solomone Kata, Ken Maumalo and Tuimoala Lolohea as among those to have impressed.

Those three, along with Tomkins, will start in the pre-season hit-out against Penrith in Rotorua on Saturday.

The fixture is the Warriors’ last NRL trial before they begin their season away to the Newcastle Knights on March 7.

Tomkins was the big signing for the Warriors last season, and the former Wigan star described his debut year in the NRL as “OK”.

“The start was tough,” the England fullback said.

“As a team we were pretty poor, which meant I couldn’t play as well as I could probably.

“I think we got better towards the end. I think just inconsistency for us all was a bit of a let-down.”

The Warriors’ start in 2014 included a change of coach after just five rounds, with Andrew McFadden replacing Matthew Elliott.

They bounced back to be knocking on the door of the finals, before running out of steam and falling just short.

Tomkins, 25, said there weren’t any real surprises for him in his first year in the NRL.

“I think it was just getting used to the consistent competition,” he said.

“It was what I expected, but I’m an NRL player and I feel comfortable with that.”

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