NRL: Edge a myth, says England star

Budding England superstar Sam Tomkins has described claims of a gulf between the standard of the Super League and the NRL as a myth as he talked up the tourists' chances of a Four Nations upset of Australia tomorrow.

Heralded as the hottest league prospect to emerge from the Northern Hemisphere in some time, the 21-year-old said the Super League was a more than adequate breeding ground to produce players capable of dethroning the Kangaroos.

"I think it's a bit of a myth now that the NRL is a lot further forward than the Super League," Tomkins said.

"There's lads playing week-in week-out in Super League and playing well but then they worry about playing against Australia and New Zealand, whereas if we just concentrate on what we do week-in and week-out I don't think we'll be far off."

The standard of the England-based competition was called into question after the visitors looked off the pace in going down to New Zealand in last week's opener, with NRL-based duo Gareth Ellis and Sam Burgess the best of a disappointing bunch.

Again it is widely believed England's chances of beating Australia at AAMI Park will come down to whether Burgess and Ellis can fire, but Tomkins claimed the Super League players were more than up to the task, provided they overcame the mental hurdle of believing they could compete with the best in the business.

"I think the speed of the game - it's not quicker than the Super League, certainly not the tests I've played in," Tomkins said.

"The anticipation of the big step up is worse than what it actually is - when you come into it you're thinking 'it's going to be different, it's going to be quicker and faster', but I've not found that and I don't think many people do."

It's that type of confidence which makes Tomkins a leader within the England squad, despite his youth and inexperience, with tomorrow's match just his seventh test cap.

Speculation that he would be shifted from halfback to fullback after his attacking edge was blunted by New Zealand in last weekend's tournament opener was proved correct when the side was named yesterday.

Tomkins, who was a revelation when moved to the No 1 jumper for Wigan this year, said he was happy to play anywhere, but denied he was reluctant to put his slight frame in the defensive line.

"I had it all year in the Super League so it's nothing new, the big fellas having a go at me," Tomkins said. "I enjoy the physical side of the game, I'm not someone who shirks their responsibility at the defensive end - it doesn't bother me and I'll certainly be expecting it again this weekend."

Australia v England:

Melbourne, 8pm tomorrow, SS2

- AAP