Sam Tomkins advised to head to Australia

Wigan legend Bill Ashurst backs Tomkins to pursue a career in Australia

Wigan legend Bill Ashurst has advised Sam Tomkins to go and pursue a career in Australia.

Ashurst spent three years Down Under himself playing for Penrith Panthers between 1974 and 1976 and thinks Tomkins should do the same.

Tomkins has been with Wigan for his whole career, joining the club in 2008 and the 24-year-old has a remarkable record with the Super League club scoring 140 tries in 142 appearances.

The full-back also has a try per game record for England, notching 18 tries in his 18 international caps.

Ashurst told MEN Sport: "Sam has got to go and play in Australia. If he does, he will be a sensation.

"You have to test yourself against the best and that simply means playing in the NRL. It’s a far superior competition to Super League."

The Wigan legend made over 180 appearances for the Warriors in the 1970s and he believes Tomkins would continue his success if he decided to move in 2014.

“He can play anywhere and for anyone in my view because he is such a naturally gifted player who can have a huge impact on any given game.

“I am sure he would really have a massive impart in Australia because he has the game suited for the NRL."

Auckland Warriors seem to be the team leading the chase for Tomkins with the Englishman supposedly set to be the first million-dollar man in the club's two-decade history.

Ashurst believes there are more incentives for Tomkins than the money though.

He said: "It’s said players mainly go to Australia because of the money but that’s not true.

“Believe me, any player worth his salt wants to play at the very highest level and that means going to the NRL."