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IF ENGLAND rookie Sam Tomkins unearths the game of his life and causes a boilover against the Kangaroos in the Four Nations final, the first person he will thank is former Parramatta bad boy Tim Smith. Tomkins will partner fellow 20-year-old Kyle Eastmond in the halves in tomorrow morning's Four Nations decider at Elland Road, and they have the enormous challenge of outshining and outpointing Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston.
It's remarkable that Tomkins only shot to prominence in June when Smith was injured at Wigan, providing him with the chance to nail down a first-grade spot.
"He has taught me a lot,'' Tomkins said. "He's one of the most skilful blokes I've ever met.
"Just massive things. Passing really. I've never seen a bloke pass like Tim before.
"Anybody who has trained or played with him will say the same thing as well. Things haven't always gone quite his way in rugby, but he definitely taught me a lot.''
While much of the focus has been on England's massive forward pack in the build-up to the game - especially with heavy rain forecast for Leeds - the Australians aren't taking the young halves lightly.
It has been noticeable at Australian training sessions how much talk there has been about the speed of the two halves. Eastmond has invariably been compared to former Great Britain winger Jason Robinson throughout his career.
He and Eastmond have been playing against and with one another in junior representative teams since they were 10, but it wasn't until last weekend's shock 20-12 victory over New Zealand that they played together for their country.
Against Australia in Wigan a fortnight ago, Eastmond came on in the second half and was instrumental in the home side's gallant fightback.
"We definitely got a bit of confidence out of that game,'' the St Helens playmaker said.
"We beat them 16-0 in the second half. We need to put it together for 80 minutes to give ourselves a chance, otherwise they could blow us away in the first half like they did.
"If we put it together for 80 minutes, we're in with a chance, without a doubt.
"It was a daunting starting on the bench, and 26-0 down. When I got on I was fine, and to be out there with the greatest players in the world, you can't ask for more than that.''
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,26345984-5003409,00.html
It's remarkable that Tomkins only shot to prominence in June when Smith was injured at Wigan, providing him with the chance to nail down a first-grade spot.
"He has taught me a lot,'' Tomkins said. "He's one of the most skilful blokes I've ever met.
"Just massive things. Passing really. I've never seen a bloke pass like Tim before.
"Anybody who has trained or played with him will say the same thing as well. Things haven't always gone quite his way in rugby, but he definitely taught me a lot.''
While much of the focus has been on England's massive forward pack in the build-up to the game - especially with heavy rain forecast for Leeds - the Australians aren't taking the young halves lightly.
It has been noticeable at Australian training sessions how much talk there has been about the speed of the two halves. Eastmond has invariably been compared to former Great Britain winger Jason Robinson throughout his career.
He and Eastmond have been playing against and with one another in junior representative teams since they were 10, but it wasn't until last weekend's shock 20-12 victory over New Zealand that they played together for their country.
Against Australia in Wigan a fortnight ago, Eastmond came on in the second half and was instrumental in the home side's gallant fightback.
"We definitely got a bit of confidence out of that game,'' the St Helens playmaker said.
"We beat them 16-0 in the second half. We need to put it together for 80 minutes to give ourselves a chance, otherwise they could blow us away in the first half like they did.
"If we put it together for 80 minutes, we're in with a chance, without a doubt.
"It was a daunting starting on the bench, and 26-0 down. When I got on I was fine, and to be out there with the greatest players in the world, you can't ask for more than that.''
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,26345984-5003409,00.html
