Sam Tomkins tips Wigan Warriors to splash the cash on star man

The two early season favourites for the Super League title in 2024, Wigan Warriors and St Helens, met on Good Friday.

The two sides who have won the last six Super League titles between them both have star studded squads and many have a meeting between the two as the likely Grand Final.

Though the two may eventually battle for Super League glory, on Good Friday the traditional Easter bragging rights were up for grabs as the two sides met in front of a sell out crowd.

St Helens welcomed back both Tommy Makinson and Lewis Dodd from injury.

The first half was a tight affair. The best chance of the first 40 went the way of St Helens after Lewis Dodd latched onto an offload and skated through but Jai Field came across to tackle the halfback into touch. Dodd was impressive and dangerous in the first 40 but despite a lot of possession on the Wigan line, the Warriors wouldn’t relent. Saints did take the lead with a penalty and did have a man advantage after Tyler Dupree was sin binned and crucially not red carded for leading with a forearm. It remained 2-0 at halftime however.

Then in the second half the first try would finally come after a kick from Bevan French as he grounded his own kick ahead.

But after this came a key momentum shift as Liam Byrne was sent off for direct contact to the head. With a man advantage, Alex Walmsley ripped through and Tommy Makinson was then on hand to take a kick and score making it 6-4.

If that didn’t win it, a storming Konrad Hurrell charge gave the Saints the win.

Sam Tomkins backs Wigan Warriors to keep Bevan French

Despite the defeat, one Wigan Warriors star shone with a lovely moment. That was of course Bevan French with the Wigan Warriors stand-off putting a grubber kick behind the defence to ground the ball for Wigan’s only try.

After the game, the Sky Sports pundits were praising French when Brian Carney asked of Sam Tomkins if French would likely extend his contract with the club.

Tomkins backed his former club to splash the cash to secure the future of French. He said: “I’m pretty sure the open cheque book at Wigan will secure him. I’m confident he’ll stay and they’ll want to keep him and Wigan will will be able to pay whatever it costs to keep him.”