Sam Tomkins has dropped a hint as to what his plans could be for next season, after stepping out of retirement to play for Catalans Dragons.
Originally ‘retiring’ after a Grand Final loss to former club Wigan Warriors in 2023, he returned in July this year in an attempt to save the Dragons‘ season.
When the news broke, Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin, who Tomkins had been working with, said: “I think he’s mental. I think he’s crazy but good on him. Good on him.
“To come into a Catalans team that has struggled so much, obviously Sam would always be the answer, but I can’t even get inside the mentality to do that.”
Now, speaking to Wilkin and Jenna Brooks on Sky Sports’ The Bench, he has reflected on the decision, saying: “I have no regrets.
“I love the club, and the club are in a difficult position, so when they said ‘will you come back?’, it was quite an easy decision for me really, after a little bit of thinking, because I wanted to help, and I wanted to be part of the group.
“I came in when we weren’t in a great position and we signed Jarrod Wallace at the same time, Reimis Smith came over, so there was an obvious change in the club. We needed to change something, and I was one of the parts to that.
“I don’t think anyone that came in, myself, Jarrod or Reimis Smith, made a big enough impact to change the course of the season, but for me, I have no regrets, I just wish it had finished a bit better.”
Sam Tomkins drops major hint about his 2025 plans
Credit: Rémi Vignaud/Catalans Dragons/SWpix.com
Asked whether he has played his last game in professional rugby league, Tomkins responded: “I don’t know, that’s the honest answer.
“I thought I was going to finish by winning at Old Trafford last year, I didn’t get that. I never want my last game to come really, I’ve made that clear. I never wanted to retire.”
Part of the original decision was due to a knee injury, but he said about that knee: “[It feels] a lot, lot better than it did in 2023.
“I spent some time speaking to physios and specialists when I came back. I got eight months of pure recovery. When you get injured, you come back after a few weeks, you start your rehab.
“It’s all about building strength, but you’re always aggravating that joint. I had eight months of doing nothing.”
He concluded: “I could play again.”
Clearly, the legendary full-back feels he has unfinished business, so we could yet see him on the Super League field in 2025.
