SAM TOMKINS COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT

[josie andrews]

Catalans Dragons have announced the return of Sam Tomkins to the squad until the end of the 2024 season.

Sam Tomkins, who announced his retirement last season, has come out of retirement to play for the Dragons.

Having progressed through the Wigan Youth Development System, Sam Tomkins won three Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups and two League Leaders Shields with the Cherry and Whites.

Named Super League Young Player of the Year award twice in 2009 and 2010, he then featured in five successive Super League Dream Team’s and was the 2012 Man of Steel. Tomkins scored 158 tries in 186 games for Wigan.

He left his hometown club to join the NRL and the New Zealand Warriors in 2014, scoring 14 tries in 37 NRL games before returning to Wigan after two seasons Down Under.

He joined the Dragons in 2019. Named in the 2021 Dream Team, he has also been named Man of Steel and won the League Leaders Shield with the club. He scored 33 tries and 418 points in 104 games with the Dragons in 5 seasons in Perpignan.

In 16 profesionnal seasons, he made 274 Super League appearances, scoring 160 tries and 1169 points.

Sam Tomkins

I didn’t think this would be happening, but I’m excited be back playing for Catalans.
I’m passionate about the club so when Steve asked about the possibility of me returning to the playing group, I couldn’t say no.

The time since last year’s grand final has given me time to recover physically and mentally, I’m ready.
I have been training for the last few weeks and feel good so I look forward to adding to what is already a talented group of players for the remaining games of 2024.

Steve McNamara, Catalans Dragons Headcoach

With the time he’s had to rest, rehab and freshen up Sam has looked outstanding when joining in our training sessions. From a simple question about how he’d feel about playing again a flame was lit. I’ve never seen him as excited as this before. Witnessing him both physically and mentally it was a no brainer for us to register him. We are adding a great player and a true leader to our team for the rest of 2024.

https://www.superleague.co.uk/article/4 ... retirement

[fozzie58]

Well I expected to wake up as a woman more than I expected this news

[josie andrews]

Well I expected to wake up as a woman more than I expected this news

Just in time to get a few games under his belt before they play Wigan at their place!

[Southern Softy]

Hope he succeeds. Great players playing should always be good for the game.

[jobo]

Hope it goes well for him except of course, when he plays against us.

[Barney841]

He look knackered towards the end of last season.
Hope he’s made the right decision

[fozzie58]

The more I think about it the more it shows how desperate Catalan are I really am struggling to think of a player who’s come back and made that much of a difference this far in to a season and in the last five or ten years or so the game is so athletic nowadays it’s not as easy as it once was

[Bobby-WRL]

If he thinks he’s going to win anything with this rabble he’s deluded.

[Wiganer Ted]

It might be more about finishing the season in better form than they are now.
They have a massive corporate and perhaps Sam is going to help improve results to ensure they all renew for 2025.
They have some good signings for next year and Sam's playing again brings that star quality.
Last week Catalans sacked three players with immediate effect so they will have plenty cap space.

[moto748]

It might be more about finishing the season in better form than they are now.
They have a massive corporate and perhaps Sam is going to help improve results to ensure they all renew for 2025.
They have some good signings for next year and Sam's playing again brings that star quality.
Last week Catalans sacked three players with immediate effect so they will have plenty cap space.

Yes, this.