MAURICE LINDSAY says the Tomkins brothers will ­spearhead England’s revival ahead of the Four Nations ­series in Australia and New Zealand.

MAURICE LINDSAY says the Tomkins brothers will ­spearhead England’s revival ahead of the Four Nations ­series in Australia and New Zealand.

Former Wigan chairman ­Lindsay, who has also served as chief executive of the RFL and Great Britain team manager, believes on-song Wigan can be key to transforming England’s fortunes – just as they were in 1992.

And he reckons Joel and Sam Tomkins, who helped the Warriors to Grand Final ­victory over St Helens last weekend, will be crucial to the Three Lions roaring Down Under.

Ahead of England’s first Test against New Zealand on October 23, Lindsay said: “When I retired from Wigan the Tomkins brothers were still kids, but I knew they’d be superstars.

“They are going to be a special part of a Wigan and England revolution.

“It will be a massive test Down Under but I can see signs of the cycle turning and the revival is coming.

“Sean O’Loughlin is playing the best rugby of his career, Gareth Ellis won player of the year with Wests Tigers in the NRL, and St Helens prop forward James Graham [pictured below] is a very special player.

“There’s a new and vibrant spirit coursing through English rugby league. These have been barren years for Wigan and the national team, but the emergence of the Tomkins ­brothers can help bring the glory back.”

England face a tough test of their credentials in next Saturday’s friendly against New Zealand Maori in Auckland, ahead of the Four Nations series, but Lindsay is optimistic.

As Great Britain team manager he helped to mastermind a shock Ashes Test victory over Australia in Melbourne 18 years ago.

“That was the day English rugby league got its credibility back and I want them to have that spirit again.

Technique

“For 20 years before that, Australia toyed with us. It was embarrassing – they were in a different universe.

‘‘The Aussies said to me before the tour, ‘Trying to sell Great Britain on tour is like flogging a dead horse. Nobody wants to know’.

“They dismissed us as unimportant and thrashed us every time.

“At the time, we didn’t even ­recognise how far Australia had got ahead of us in terms of lifestyle, ­training methods and technique. We were in the Dark Ages. ‘I made it my life’s work to try to help GB win a Test in Australia – and we achieved it.”

Lindsay went to Australia six months before the tour and hand-picked the ­hotels and training facilities.

He said: “We were meticulous and methodical.

“We were a ­battle-hardened squad and it was a great shock to the Aussies.

“They had a celebration ­dinner before the Second Test but we did not go because we had nothing to celebrate.