Jake Wardle on "dealing" with Huddersfield snub to becoming Wigan Warriors champ
Harry Sunderland Trophy winner Jake Wardle insists he never had to prove Huddersfield wrong - but he’s loving life with Wigan.
The classy centre, 24, is a Super League champion after playing a huge role in Saturday's Grand Final success over Catalans. Wardle came up with a number of sizzling breaks, including the one that set up Liam Marshall’s match-winning try. He pipped team-mate Harry Smith to the player of the match award by just one vote.
But Wardle surprisingly could barely get a game for Huddersfield last season. He was farmed out on loan to Warrington before being dumped, joining Wigan last autumn instead on a three-year deal. Yet while Giants slumped to ninth, missing out on the play-offs, Wardle has shone.
He’s scored 16 tries, earned England and Dream Team selection and lifted the League Leaders’ Shield before his Old Trafford heroics to show Huddersfield boss Ian Watson what he’s missed out on. But Wardle insisted: “I don’t think it was ever about proving a point. Sometimes it’s the way the game goes. I just had to deal with that at the time.
"That’s in the past now. I'm only thinking about the present and the future. For me, it was just about finding that happiness. The last two years, especially at Huddersfield, had been really inconsistent on and off the field for me.
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“And with that probably came a bit of unhappiness with the game. But since I've moved to Wigan I’ve found that love for the game again. I’m really enjoying it. It’s brilliant to have won the Grand Final and I’m so thankful to Wigan for taking me on.”
England boss Shaun Wane in the Old Trafford changing rooms with Wigan's Abbas Miski, Toby King, Jake Wardle and Sam Powell after victory over Catalans. (Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)Wardle will hope to continue his stunning year when England boss Shaun Wane names his squad on Tuesday for the three Test series against Tonga. Meanwhile, Sam Tomkins was “devastated” by Catalans’ Grand Final result but says he will now turn his attention to being a better parent. The ex-England captain, 34, was powerless as his side lost 10-2 against former club Wigan and unable to have any impact.
He had hoped to bow out in style in the last game of his decorated career but admitted: “I didn't enjoy one second of it. I don’t see getting to a Grand Final as much of an achievement, really. We play this game to win and second place is losing. It’s a step in the right direction for the club to reach another Grand Final but you’re judged on winning and losing in sport and today we lost, so it’s not a good thing.”
Tomkins - who had battled a knee injury throughout his final season - will take an extended break before starting an ambassadorial role with the French club where he’s spent the last five years. He said: “I’ll spend some time with the family. Sometimes you have to be a little bit selfish as an athlete and this year I’ve been more selfish than I’d have liked to be.
Catalans Dragons' Sam Tomkins, grounded, looks dejected after the Betfred Super League final loss against Wigan at Old Trafford (PA Wire)“I’ve had to say ‘no’ to my kids and wife too many times this year because I’ve struggled a lot physically. Getting ready for games has not just been at training but at home, 24 hours a day, and I’m glad that’s over and I can be a better dad. I haven’t been able to be present for as much as I wanted this year. I’ve got an amazing wife who’s pushed me and put my career first but that’s over now, my career’s done, so the next three months is about me being the best dad.”
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