Ex-Wigan Warriors man Sam Tomkins has explained what he thinks should be removed from the sport of rugby league.
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, will now also see him play on during the 2025 season.
Despite this, he’s still doing plenty of work for Sky Sports, and he has given his thoughts on something that should change about the sport.
Sam Tomkins on what he thinks should be removed from rugby league
Credit: Imago Images
Speaking on The Bench Podcast with Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin, he explained one thing that he thinks should be removed: “Water carriers and physios.
“I’m sick of seeing the certain teams that will send on two physios and a water boy, and they’re constantly on the field.”
It’s a phenomenon almost exclusively reserved for rugby league, due to the nature of how the ball moves through the field.
He continued: “They’ve all got an earpiece in. And some clubs have been warned for it, they’re supposed to be going on to check a player or whatever. And you see it all the time as teams that just have them on the field.
“I feel like when we’re watching from a stand, when you look on that field, you want to see blue against white.
“On TV, it’s like you’ve got the close in of the tackle back and you can’t see it, but when you’re in a stadium, you look on and you’ve just got like four or five orange shirts dotted about. I feel like, they shouldn’t come on the field unless someone’s injured.”
He also suggested that the messages from the coaches that they relay aren’t needed, saying: “Well I think you’ve done all your work in the week, haven’t you? And when you’re on a field, there’s only so many messages you get.”
Ron pass
October 19, 2024 at 3:11 pm
Wll said Sam agree with u.
John
October 19, 2024 at 6:25 pm
I’m sick of seeing players going off for “a rest” for an HIA. Double benefit. You stay down after a heavy tackle and the video ref scours the tackle, trying desperately to find head contact so everyone gets a rest, and then you get to go off for up to 15 minutes rest before coming back on having supposedly been unconscious less than 15 minutes earlier.
It’s also an extra substitution! Should be the other way around. You pass the HIA and you can come on whenever you like but it counts as one of the player exchanges. You fail the HIA and the exchanged player doesn’t count as an exchange if it was as a result of an offence by the other team.
Alan Yarwood
October 19, 2024 at 8:03 pm
I agree with Sam,also I,d like the league ban players who try to Influence referees, trying to buy yellows and reds for opponents
Anonymous
October 19, 2024 at 8:50 pm
As a huge superleague fan im also fed up of the sky cameras continuously panningon to the team coaches.Im paying to watch the game not to see whether the team coaches are smiling or not
Colin
October 20, 2024 at 1:15 am
I agree. Als0 leaning on the person playing the ball. Trying to get a knock on. That’s the ref’s job.
Michael Hughes
October 20, 2024 at 8:21 am
Absolutely agree with Sam Tomkins, I have been saying this for years. It so obvious what is going I am surprised the rugby league have not looked into this.
Anonymous
October 20, 2024 at 8:28 am
It’s been happening for 30 years here in Australia 100% agree
Anonymous
October 20, 2024 at 9:40 pm
Alfie Langer probably done more minutes on the pitch for Bennett as a water carrier than he did in his (outstanding) playing career.
Terry lee
October 21, 2024 at 4:24 pm
I saw Warrington’s doctor and physio “on their marks” like Olympic sprinters 5min before half time and sure enough, a certain player went down with a a head knock, on they ran, off they went with the player for HIA and a free substitution, surprise surprise, he came back on, video replay showed no contact took place. This happened frequently, same player. I know there is no room for a non medical opinion here but when no contact is proven, action should be taken. This practice ceased when sky rumbled them.
Nick Bielby
October 20, 2024 at 1:06 pm
Completely agree. UK super league is ruined by the RFL. Betfred league 1and NRL for me next season.
Clive Philpott
October 20, 2024 at 3:00 pm
The one thing Rugby league should do is respect the kicker like they do in Rugby union when a player takes a conversion or penalty kick.
Fred Fallon
October 20, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Absolutely not! Do people who say”Respect the kicker” object to fans booing footballers taking a penalty? Or is it somehow ‘different’ in soccer? For professional sportmen and women, being able to handle stick from the crowd is just part of the job. I find RTK dismally prissy.
Anonymous
October 20, 2024 at 11:41 pm
Totally agree !!!!!
Terry lee
October 21, 2024 at 4:22 pm
I saw Warrington’s doctor and physio “on their marks” like Olympic sprinters 5min before half time and sure enough, a certain player went down with a a head knock, on they ran, off they went with the player for HIA and a free substitution, surprise surprise, he came back on, video replay showed no contact took place. This happened frequently, same player. I know there is no room for a non medical opinion here but when no contact is proven, action should be taken. This practice ceased when sky rumbled them.