Liam Farrell says Wigan are determined to send his great fried Sam Tomkins off with a bang by winning Super League Grand Final against Warrington.
Tomkins recently agreed a world-record transfer to the NRL with New Zealand Warriors and his departure will undoubtedly leave a huge hole in the side.
The full-back isn’t the only player leaving, with winger Pat Richards and prop Lee Mossop moving to Wests Tigers and Parramatta respectively, while forward Chris Tuson will be joining Hull FC in the off-season.
It means it is sure to be an emotional night at Old Trafford and, having only finished fourth in the table, it would be a huge achievement if Shaun Wane’s men were to emerge victorious.
However, it won’t be easy against a Wolves side that lost last season’s Grand Final and have looked extremely sharp during the play-offs, cruising through against Leeds and Huddersfield.
It would be typical of Tomkins to steal the show though and having grown up with the livewire back, Farrell admits he is desperate to send his great friend away with a winner’s medal.
“It’s going to feel very strange for myself,” says Farrell. “From being 12 or 13 years old and going to school with him, and then playing all the way through the academy with him as well, it’s going to be really strange when he’s gone.
“But there would be no better way to send him away than with a Grand Final win. There’s a few other exceptional players leaving, and it’s the same for all of them.”
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