Welsby will shine at Rugby League World Cup, claims captain Tomkins

England captain Sam Tomkins has tipped Jack Welsby to show he belongs on the international stage at the Rugby League World Cup after a stellar season for St Helens. Welsby, 21, starred mainly at half-back for Saints as they won a record-breaking fourth consecutive Super League title with a 24-12 triumph over Leeds Rhinos in last month's Grand Final.

Ad In the absence of the rested Tomkins, the versatile youngster excelled at full-back in England's convincing 50-0 warm-up win over Fiji on Friday — a performance which should be enough to force his way into Shaun Wane's 17 for Saturday's hotly-anticipated opener against Samoa. Rugby LeagueKing brothers ready to fulfil Ireland dream at Rugby League World CupAN HOUR AGO Tomkins, 33, said: «I thought he was brilliant [against Fiji], I think this World Cup is a massive opportunity for Jack.

»He has proven that he is a star player  in Super League and I'd love Jack to go out and show the rest of the world exactly what he can do. «There is no better stage to do it than the World Cup and I think Jack, although he is young, he has clearly got everything it takes to be a top, top rugby league player and he is fast on his way to becoming that.» Tomkins will reclaim the No.1 shirt at St James' Park this weekend, leaving Wane a dilemma over whether to partner Welsby or Salford's Marc Sneyd with George Williams in the halves.

Far from a Jack of all trades but master of none, Catalan Dragons' Tomkins believes Welsby's best quality is his ability to excel in every position he has been tried in at domestic level, having featured at both centre and wing in recent times. «I think he is the next English star for me,» added Tomkins, who himself burst onto the scene in 2009.