Tomkins eyeing fitting farewell after being told to retire by four specialists
Four knee specialists each told Sam Tomkins to quit rugby league but, thankfully, the Catalans superstar ignored them all.
Now, the ex-England captain faces 80 minutes to sign off his incredible career on his own terms - in a Grand Final against his beloved Wigan. He steps out in Saturday’s Super League title decider having revealed the true lengths he’s gone to get through the campaign - and how loyal Catalans crucially talked him out of packing in when he did have second thoughts. Tomkins, 34, explained: “At the end of last year, my knee was pretty shot.
"I didn’t want to get it checked out as I knew I had an amazing chance to captain my country in a home World Cup. So just before the World Cup I got some stuff done with my knee and saw four different specialists - three in England, one in France - and they all gave me the same diagnosis: I should retire straight away. I thought I knew better than four knee specialists! So I decided not to.”
Two-time Man of Steel Tomkins - who still holds the sport's world-record transfer fee after his £700,000 switch from Wigan to New Zealand Warriors in 2013 - instead went under the knife and spent most of pre-season rehabbing. But the elusive full-back, who won three Grand Finals with Wigan before joining Steve McNamara’s French revolution in 2019, soon realised the specialists might be right. Tomkins recalled: “I had a sleepless night after my first game of the season in round two against Leigh.
“The plan initially was to play round five or six, but I'd got the knee as good as it could be and I went into that game confident. I'd looked after it, gone through every recovery process and it had felt good in training. But I played the game and it felt terrible. I couldn't turn, couldn't push off, and I lost all power in the left side. That was the lowest point and it was more of a shock. Not that the knee hurt, but that it was so bad. In the early hours of the morning, I called the coach and just said ‘I can’t do it.’”
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Tomkins’ big heart-to-heart with boss McNamara - and owner Bernard Guasch - proved a real Sliding Doors moment. He added: “In terms of my rugby, it was certainly the toughest conversation I’ve ever had. Steve said to just come into the office and we’d chat through it. I was adamant at the time: I know my body and I just said I can’t do it.
Catalans' Sam Tomkins scores against Salford last month (PA)“I then went to speak to the owner and CEO and I said they could take my salary off the cap and get a good player in who could produce 80 minutes every week. I wasn’t asking for a pay-out or anything, I just wanted to finish but they said no, we want you here. They just said we’d rather have you for important games than bring someone else in. Which, for me, was humbling.”
Tomkins, whose brilliant 79th minute solo try defeated champions St Helens in last week's semi-final, hailed Catalans’ medical and performance staff for then tailoring a training regime which might only see him play eight or nine times. But, remarkably, Saturday will be his 21st game when second-placed Dragons bid to make history and win their first Grand Final at the expense of leaders Wigan. Tomkins said: “I’ve played a lot, lot more rugby this year than I ever imagined I’d be able to and I’ll be forever in debt to them. The work they did means I’ll be able to finish on the biggest stage.”
After being left “devastated” when just missing out to champions St Helens in their maiden Old Trafford appearance two years ago, Tomkins conceded victory tomorrow would be the best of the lot. He said: “I’ve got a story for every one, but this is different. This would be the first Super League title for the club and the last time I’ll ever lace my boots up. The fairy tale isn’t playing on Saturday – it’s winning on Saturday.”
When just 22, Tomkins was fined by the RFL for infamously sticking two fingers up at Leeds fans during Wigan’s Challenge Cup final Wembley win. Asked how he thinks he’ll be remembered, he joked: “Probably for doing that! It depends which supporters you ask. I think I will be remembered for being competitive.
“Being the pantomime villain doesn’t bother me. I don’t mind playing up to that. We are in an entertainment sport. You’ve got to have someone to love, someone to hate. It just so happens that I’ve been someone to hate for a lot of people! I hope I’m just remembered as somebody who has given 100 per cent. This sport has given me everything I’ve got in my life. The way I live, the way my family lives, is all down to this sport. It’s a sport I can hand on heart say I’ve given 100 per cent to and I hope that’s how I get remembered.”
But Tomkins has vowed to get a lasting personal memento of any Catalans Grand Final win. He’s a tattoo for each of his three so far with Wigan so was asked if he’d get one for Les Dracs. Tomkins replied: “Yeah, I might as well. Look at me - I already look like a f****** colouring book. I will get it somewhere. I’ve not thought of it yet but why not?
Catalans' Sam Tomkins takes on St Helens' James Roby in the 2021 Grand Final (PA)“My first tattoo marked the 2010 Grand Final. I’ve got three - ’10, ’13, and ‘18. It’s funny how things turn out. My last game for Wigan was winning a Grand Final here in 2018 and now my last-ever game on the pitch is against Wigan. I understand how fortunate I am because I’m very lucky to be in this position.
Wigan's Sam Tomkins with the 2013 Super League trophy (Getty Images)"My story is a sub-plot really in what is a great opportunity for Catalans Dragons to win our first-ever Grand Final. We’re a relatively young club and this is our second chance now, having lost here in 2021 by two points. That was devastating but hopefully we can now rectify that. I've not even thought about losing."
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