▁despite ▁this ▁he ▁was ▁not ▁called ▁up ▁into ▁the ▁first - team ▁squad ▁until ▁ 1 8 ▁May ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁for ▁the ▁Super ▁League ▁match ▁against ▁H ull ▁King ston ▁Ro vers . ▁Tom kins ▁suffered ▁an ▁an k le ▁injury ▁during ▁the ▁match ▁and ▁was ▁out ▁for ▁ 2 - we eks , ▁before ▁returning ▁to ▁the ▁W igan ▁War riors ' ▁Senior ▁Academy . ▁He ▁then ▁later ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁W igan ▁War riors ▁first - team ▁for ▁the ▁match ▁against ▁the ▁Catal ans ▁Drag ons ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 7 . ▁ ▁W id nes ▁Vik ings ▁( lo an ) ▁On ▁ 2 7 ▁July ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁the ▁ 2 0 - year - old ▁joined ▁the ▁W id nes ▁Vik ings , ▁initially ▁on ▁a ▁month ' s ▁long ▁loan - de al , ▁with ▁a ▁view ▁to ▁extending ▁the ▁deal ▁to ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁season . ▁ ▁W id nes ▁Vik ings ▁Head ▁Co ach ▁Steve ▁McC orm ack ▁said , ▁" It ' s ▁a ▁really ▁good ▁signing ▁for ▁the ▁Club . ▁Jo el ▁has ▁trem end ous ▁ability ▁and ▁experience ". ▁ ▁Return ▁to ▁W igan ▁He ▁became ▁a ▁regular ▁first - team ▁player ▁for ▁the ▁W igan ▁War riors ▁during ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁season , ▁he ▁was ▁a ▁substitute ▁in ▁the ▁W igan ▁War riors ' ▁first ▁match ▁of ▁the ▁season ▁against ▁Har le qu ins ▁R