How Sam Tomkins retirement U-turn started from a ‘bit of a joke’

Sam Tomkins has opened up about his sensational return to rugby league with Catalans Dragons, despite announcing retirement last year.

The 2023 Grand Final defeat to Wigan Warriors, where he spent most of his career, was billed as his final game when it happened.

There was even a documentary made called ‘Tomkins: The Last Chance’ about his ‘final’ season in his playing career, and he seemed to be settling into post-playing life as a Sky Sports pundit.

However, his return, with Catalans Dragons, was confirmed last month, scoring on his return against Hull FC.

On this, speaking on The Bench Podcast, Tomkins said: “Genuinely, I was also shocked because I didn’t miss playing. I was happy.

“I wasn’t and I still stand by that. I was enjoying doing my punditry work and working one day a week at Catalans as well. So I was getting my fix.

“It started off as a bit of a joke. I was jumping in training, and I was doing all right. And jumping in the reserves when it’s 13 on 13 against the first team. And the coaches were sort of joking saying you could still do it.”

Sam Tomkins surprise return

Tomkins continued: “And then Steve McNamara pulled me to one side and he just said, ‘would you actually consider it?’ And I actually thought, ‘I don’t know, would I?’

“I’d been jumping in for five minutes of training, ten minutes of training, just a good ball attack That week I, on my own, started doing a little bit of running, got my head around it.

“I thought, ‘you know what, I probably could’.

“You have to sign new players before the end of the end of July. The week after, he just said: ‘I’ve had a meeting with all the staff, physios, I took everyone’s opinion and everyone said they’d like you back in the team if you want to do it’.”