Picture by Laurent Selles/Catalan Dragons/via SWpix.com - 07/03/2020 - Rugby League - Super League - Catalans Dragons v Salford Red Devils - Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan - France - Catalans Sam Tomkins fends off Salford's Gil Dudson.
You say the name Sam Tomkins and instantly people know who you are talking about.
After an incredibly fruitful time at Wigan Warriors – where Tomkins won two Challenge Cups and two Super League Grand Finals – in his first stint, the elusive fullback made the switch to NRL side New Zealand Warriors.
Following two seasons with the Warriors, Tomkins spoke of his desire to come back to the UK with Wigan, but the number one revealed that another Super League club matched their offer after the Warriors paused for thought.
“I agreed with Wigan almost and at the last minute they changed their mind and said we will leave it another year and we will sign you then,” Tomkins told the Trot The Egg In podcast.
“I said I had already told New Zealand that I wanted to leave so I’m going to leave anyway.
“I spoke to Warrington and they said they will match the offer that Wigan will offer.
‘They also said that they understood that Wigan would come back and that there would be no hard feelings if I wanted to go back with Wigan and that’s exactly what happened.
“They (Wigan) made it clear they didn’t want to at that point and wanted me a year a later but it was either that or not at all.”
Tomkins, of course, won another Grand Final with Wigan in 2018 and is now trying to inspire French side Catalans Dragons to do exactly the same.