Logan Tomkins Continues To Chart The Career Which Has Led To His Joining Salford
Having broken into the Wigan first team, with his Super League debut against Widnes, Logan went on to make a total of forty-seven appearances for them, including the 2013 Challenge Cup Final v Hull.
“We had a great build up to that, after beating London in the semi-final,” he recounts, “and everything was just right. We had a team run, at Wembley the day before, and stayed in a marvellous hotel, where Andy Farrell came to present us with our shirts.
“I didn’t get the best of starts, when I came on, from the bench, as I knocked on almost immediately. I’d never knocked on at all before, and then I went and did it, at Wembley. I never had thought that I would play there, but at the end of the game, there I was, standing on the podium, clutching my Winner’s Medal, before going around the pitch, celebrating with the fans.
“It was all a dream come true, but I fully realise how lucky I was to have been playing in such a great team.”
When it came to the Grand Final, two months later, things did not work out quite as well, with Logan consigned to eighteenth man, as cover for the doubtful Sean O’Loughlin, and he remembers going out for the warm up and watching Sean to see how he was going. In the event, the Wigan skipper came through, and was able to take up his place in the starting line-up, whilst Logan took a seat on the sidelines.
It is testament to his level-headedness that he took all this in his stride, and was in no way despondent at missing out.
“I knew my place; I was just a young lad fitting in, whereas Sean was club captain, and captain of England. His presence out there was essential. I was just glad to have been involved, and also got a Winners’ Ring, for my involvement in the earlier rounds,” is his perhaps over- modest assessment of his role.
Playing in the shadow of someone of the calibre of Michael McIlorum has its pluses, but also its negatives, for whilst it is true that the Wigan star did much to assist Logan’s development, his very presence had a blocking effect on the young lad’s progress. The appointment of the Warriors’ Assistant Coach, Iestyn Harris, as Head Coach to the Salford Red Devils, brought that to an end.
The day after taking up his position, Iestyn arranged Logan’s first loan deal here, as he wanted someone who could help him introduce new systems among his new charges. For Logan, this was the heaven sent opportunity for which he had long yearned – regular playing time, interchanging with Tommy Lee on a fifty – fifty basis, and, in view of his prior knowledge of Iestyn’s style of coaching, a senior member of the squad no less.
Twelve months later, he was back again, in similar circumstances, having chosen to return to Salford as opposed to going to play at Workington with the aim of getting back into the Wigan side. This proved to be a wise decision, as it led directly to his being signed by the Red Devils for the full 2016 season.
“I am really happy to be here, because I feel to be a really valued member of the squad,” he insists.
“I now feel much more of a Salford player than a Wiganer, as I have now played more games here than I did for them. In fact last season’s home match with Widnes was the one hundredth Super League game of my career. In the years to come I shall look back on my time at Salford with really good memories, and I am grateful to everyone here for the opportunities I have been given.”
