‘Back to the day job’ – Sky Sports commentator gives glum Sam Tomkins injury verdict

The future of Sam Tomkins is up in the air after a hamstring injury sustained in Catalans Dragons 23-22 win over Huddersfield Giants and one Sky Sports commentator has suggested that the ex-England captain could be “back to the day job as a pundit”.

Sam Tomkins shocked the rugby league world when he announced his comeback from retirement earlier this year, an announcement made live on Sky Sports for whom the full-back has worked as a pundit this season.

After calling time on his playing career, he was swiftly snapped up by Sky Sports to provide insight and analysis and his expertise and forthright opinions have seen him widely regarded as a brilliant addition by the broadcasters.

Despite returning to the field, Tomkins has still held the role as a pundit but following his injury last night, it could be more permanent with Sky Sports commentator Rod Studd declaring that “he might be back to the day job as a Sky Sports pundit”, insinuating that it could well be the end of his playing career.

With footage playing of Tomkins walking down the tunnel, Studd said: “Sam Tomkins went off midway through the second half with what looked to be a hamstring injury. You can see the strapping and the ice there on Sam’s leg and I wonder if this might be the end of the much-publicised comeback out of retirement for the two-time Man of Steel and he might be back to the day job as a Sky Sports pundit. We’ll have to wait and see on that.”

How bad is Sam Tomkins’ injury?

As yet, there is no indication from Catalans Dragons or from Sam Tomkins that retirement is the immediate plan or course of action with the hamstring still to be assessed, something that will happen today after the squad arrives back in Perpignan.

One thing that fans and Sam Tomkins will be grateful for is that the injury is not to the knee that had previously ended his career, but instead confirmed as a hamstring injury which has a varying degree of return dates based on the severity.

Sam Tomkins’ England successor, Jack Welsby, suffered a ‘badly torn hamstring’ in St Helens’ loss to Leigh in late July and that has seen the incumbent England full-back ruled out for eight weeks.

There’s currently no indication that Tomkins’ injury is as bad as that so a more realistic timeline is two to six weeks but with just six games remaining of the season, it could well be that his regular season is done.

Victory last night for Catalans pushed them six points clear of the chasing Leeds Rhinos, who face Wigan today, meaning that playoff rugby league is likely for the French outfit and that is perhaps when Sam Tomkins could return.

Studd was quick to point out what a costly win it could be though, explaining: “You can see Sam Tomkins limping away from the field and you’d have to say this victory looks like it’s coming at a cost for the Catalan Dragons because that does not look good for Sam Tomkins.

“You’d be very surprised if you saw him in the immediate future back on the rugby league field.”