Sam Tomkins’ favourite sportsman is David Beckham. He isn’t a football fan or a housewife with a crush, so it seems an odd choice for a full-back from Chorley who has grown up obsessed by rugby league.

But perhaps the two are more similar than they appear. Tomkins, like Beckham, relies on skill rather than strength – a small, wiry frame in a team of burly men.

And though neither was the complete package as a junior, both rose into the professional ranks with game-changing talent that was perfected on the training ground, showing a gritty determination to rise to the top.

Both are superstars of their sport, ticket-selling players. But if rugby league doesn’t act fast it is in danger of losing 22-year-old Tomkins to the more lucrative stage of union.

His candid and considered case for switching codes should worry all with a stake in the future of the sport.

“Rugby league doesn’t do enough to keep hold of young talent,” said Tomkins.

“I think it’s something that’s going to come up more and more in the next few years. We’ve got a lot to contend with. In union the wages are better and the players get looked after better.

“In the NRL (Australia’s Super League equivalent) it’s the same sort of thing – where salary caps are going up massively. There’s nothing to indicate that Super League will follow suit.”

Lure

The current situation in the highest tier of British Rugby League dictates that a club cannot spend more than £1.65m in total on annual salaries for their 25 highest earners.

With rank and file squad members at Premiership Rugby Union sides taking home upwards of £100,000 a year, the financial lure to players whose game would translate well is obvious.

“It’s not all about money, the international stage in union far outweighs anything in league,” added Tomkins.

“They’re playing 10 games a year in front of 70 or 80,000 people. We play the Four Nations and one mid-season, there’s no comparison really.

“There will have to be some decisions taken on how you’re going to keep young home-grown players.

“There are a lot of lads coming through the systems now who are a lot wiser to thinking ‘maybe this is a starting point for me to move on’.

“A lot of them won’t know much about union. But the things they do know are that it pays more money, has a bigger professional stage and I think players will be pulled there at some point.”

Tomkins’ older brother Joel who, like Sam, has spent his entire league career at Wigan Warriors, seems certain to become the latest loss.

He asked to be left out of England boss Steve McNamara’s Four Nations plans while he ponders a lucrative offer to join Saracens.

“He’s got some things going on with his career whether he’s going to take another path or not,” said Tomkins.

“He’s taking some big decisions and it’s not right for him to be here.”

Sam, who has not ruled out a future move to union, cruised to a quartet of tries as England crushed Wales in their first match of the tournament last weekend.

An honest and thoughtful athlete, he bears no resemblance to the conceited and bratty personality that his detractors believe him to be.

Consciously or not, though, he courts controversy.

He was fined for giving a two-fingered salute to Leeds fans during Wigan’s Challenge Cup final win in August. This came after he was booed during an international game against the Exiles in June at Headingley.

He insists the booing doesn’t affect his game, although he brings his jaw up slightly to meet the suggestion that he could be greeted with a similar response during the Four Nations matches.

“I won’t expect to get booed. But if I get booed, I get booed,” said Tomkins.

“It’s happened before so it won’t be a massive shock if it happens again.

“In the Exiles game I didn’t expect it. I think a massive part of that booing is because it was in Leeds.

Smile

“For one reason or another I’m not their favourite player,” said Tomkins with a wry smile.

He also has previous with some of his England squad mates – namely Warrington Wolves’ Ben Westwood, who punched him during a league match last season.

“You’re worst enemies with some of these blokes week-in, week-out. Me and Ben had a ‘do’ in a game,” said Tomkins.

“But I’m good friends with Bennie and have been for a few years.”

Westwood, broad like a traditional second row, enters the room right on cue, teasing Tomkins and sitting on the arm of his chair.

“You know that when you’re playing the Aussies, the Kiwis or the Welsh,” said Tomkins.

“If something kicks off they’re going to be the blokes who will have your back, the same ones you’ve been battling with a few months ago.”

Tweet