Wilkin started his career at Hull Kingston Rovers.[7] He made his debut for the club in 2002 which was also his only season at his boyhood club as he signed for Super League club St. Helens for Super League VIII in 2003.
St Helens
Wilkin soon broke into the first team and has been dubbed by some as one of the most promising running backs in the game. By the age of 24, Wilkin had impressed many and played in some high octane matches.
However, the 2006 season was a new high point in Jon's career. He was a key member of the treble-winning team as Saints won the 2006 Challenge Cup where he played with a broken nose. St Helens reached the 2006 Super League Grand final to be contested against Hull FC, and Wilkin played at second-row in Saints' 26–4 victory.
The icing on the cake for Wilkin and St Helens came when they won the BBC TV Sports Personality of the Year Team of the Year award, with Daniel Anderson taking the Best Coach honour.[8] Wilkin (L) was recognised for his good season by being named in the 2006 Super League Dream Team.[9]
Jon was awarded community volunteer of 2008 at a ceremony in Manchester. Jon said of his achievement "All those hours of helping others is part of my job". Jon went on to thank, amongst others, author Rudyard Kipling whose poem 'If' is a prominent influence in his life.
Wilkin ended his long association with St Helens and signed for the Toronto Wolfpack ahead of the 2019 season.
In July 2020 Wilkin announced that he would retire at the end of the 2020 season.[17]
International career
Wilkin was called in to the Tri Nations squad in 2005 but did not feature in the competition.
He was included in the 25-man squad for the 2006 Tri-Nations Tour of Australia and New Zealand. Wilkin made his international début from the bench at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney on 4 November 2006 against Australia. He came off the bench in two further games in that series, the first against New Zealand in Wellington, and the second against Australia in Brisbane.