Sam Tomkins: Staying at Wigan was right decision

Sam Tomkins says he made the right decision to remain with Wigan Warriors at the end of last season.

The full-back, 23, had been linked with moves to Australia's NRL and a switch of codes to rugby union before agreeing a new long-term contract.

Tomkins told BBC Radio Manchester: "I'm really happy with the choice I made last year to re-sign at Wigan.

"I love playing with the lads, we've got a great set-up and I don't want to go anywhere else for the time being."

On the same day Tomkins signed his new five-year deal with the Warriors, brother Joel switched codes to join Premiership side Saracens.

"I get down there to see him quite a bit," added the England international. "He's played the first two games of the year for them.

"Eight or nine of the Wigan lads went to watch him at Sale at the weekend. He's having a good time but it's not for me yet."

Wigan, who finished top of Super League, begin their play-off campaign against Catalan Dragons on Friday.

They ended the regular season with a home defeat by St Helens, although Tomkins says the Warriors can take heart from their performance, having played for much of the game with 12 men.

"It's not very often that you can lose a game and feel like you can take a lot from it," he continued. "We battled for 65 minutes with 12 men and the character we showed was good.

"We've got to win two games to get to the Grand Final. The teams that we're going to be up against, we feel we've got what we need in our squad to beat them."

Prop Stuart Fielden made his first-team comeback in the game against St Helens after 19 months out injured and the former Great Britain international said it was one of the biggest games of his career.

"You've been given a chance and if you don't play well, you won't be picked again," said Fielden. "I did my best and I think I did all right so that gives me a good shot at being involved for the play-offs."