After winning all there is to win in Rugby League Sam Tomkins announced that he will be retiring at the end of the season in March 2023.
After scoring a miraculous last-minute try against St Helens, Tomkins set up a clash against Wigan at Old Trafford in the Super League Grand Final.
Not many people could have predicted that his final ever game will be a Super League Grand Final against a club where the full-back made his name.
“I couldn’t have written an ending like this, to play in the Grand Final against a club that was a huge part of my life for a long long time,” Tomkins said with a grin on his face.
Despite all the talk being about this being his last dance Tomkins doesn’t see the game as any different: “I don’t see it as the highest pressure, I’ve been lucky and I’ve been to a lot of finals.”
“This will mean the most just because it’s my last game, I want my last ever memory of lacing up my boots with a win.” Tomkins expressed
With his last ever game fast approaching the veteran’s mindset won’t change: “On Saturday I just want to win and there will be no time to look over to friends thinking of the good old days.”
Despite his sparkling career when the whistle goes on Saturday, it could be glory once again for Tomkins or Wigan could ruin the perfect fairy tale ending.
All about the French
Catalans Dragons have come a long way since their million-pound game in 2017, reaching their first-ever Grand Final in 2021 to being in their second Grand Final in 2023.
Tomkins has been at the heart of this climb since his move to the South of France in 2018.
“It was an opportunity for me to do something with a small young family.” Tomkins expressed.
The highly respected full-back has won many accolades throughout his career and while being at the Catalans Tomkins won the Man of Steel for his remarkable efforts in the 2021 season.
Captain of the Catalans, Ben Garcia said this about his teammate: “Not only good on the pitch but off the pitch he brings the culture of winning.”
Despite all the attention being on his final ever game, Tomkins realises the importance of this game not just for Catalans for France Rugby League.
“It would be massive because it would be the first-ever Grand Final win for Catalans, I think it would be huge and that’s why it would be so special.” Tomkins said with a smile on his face.
After Toulouse were relegated last year all the pressure on bringing some Grand Final silverware rests on the Catalans
“There’s a lot of people back in France passionate about Rugby League and they have not had much success in terms of Grand Finals.”
“Time for us to have some success and some silverware,” Tomkins said.
Win, Win, Win
Tomkins began his career at the age of 12. He was part of the Wigan Warriors scholarship team and it wasn’t long before the naturally gifted player earned a contract playing for the Warriors academy side.
“I was lucky enough to do that. Then your one goal, one objective is to play a super league game for Wigan.” Tomkins recalled.
Not long after cementing his place in the Academy in April of 2008 a young 18-year-old announced himself to the world of rugby league against Whitehaven scoring a hattrick on his debut.
A year on, head coach Michael Maguire moved the young star from half-back to full-back where Tomkins made this his own and revolutionised the position.
His first trophy came only two years into his illustrious career when Tomkins got his hands on the Super League Grand Final, this was quickly followed up by winning second Grand Final win with the Wigan in 2013.
“As an athlete we just want to win, It’s the best thing in the world.” Tomkins describes with a determined look in his eye.
After a short spell playing the NRL he returned to Wigan. The tricky full-back was stricken with multiple injuries but by 2018 he helped Wigan to another Grand Final victory
Looking back on these magnificent achievements Tomkins said: “A lot of players play and don’t win silverware so I’ve been lucky.”
This was his last-ever game for Wigan. Even Hollywood scriptwriters would struggle to come up with something that magical.
Tomkins will be hoping that this fairy tale of a career will get even better on Saturday if he is able to lift the famous trophy for his fourth time and the Catalans first.
