Sam Tomkins picks out the NRL star he thinks is “the best in the world” ahead of the Rugby League World Cup

The Rugby League World Cup is always a celebration of the best players on the planet as they all come together to fight for the most prestigious trophy in the game.

The tournament kick starts tomorrow as England take on Samoa in a mouth watering opening game which could define both teams’ tournaments as it will send them down a very specific road to the final with both teams tipped to be in the mix for glory.

After this, holders Australia take on Fiji at Headingley before other favourites for glory start their campaigns in the days that follow as New Zealand take on Lebanon and Tonga battle Papua New Guinea.

These five teams, as well as the likes of Papua New Guinea and others, all boast some of the best players on the planet and to build hype for the tournament, the Rugby League World Cup YouTube channel has asked captains and coaches which players they’re most looking forward to and England skipper Sam Tomkins made a bold claim about who he is looking forward to see.

A fullback himself, he’s excited to see his opposite number at Australia in the shape of James Tedesco.

Tedesco, like Tomkins, captains his country for the first time in the tournament and beat out some brilliant players like Grand Final Man of the Match Dylan Edwards for the fullback spot.

However, to Tomkins the Sydney Roosters star is the best fullback on the planet despite the likes of Tom Trbojevic and is the player he can’t wait to see in the competition: “James Tedesco, he’s a fullback same position as me but I believe he’s the best in the world at it. Always like watching him play and looking forward to seeing him in this competition.”

England fans will be hoping that it is Tomkins who shines in the tournament and not Tedesco and that it is the Catalans Dragons man wo lifts the trophy at the end of the World Cup but there is no denying the quality of Tedesco.