‘Says a lot about Hull FC’ – Jon Wilkin makes Sam Tomkins claim

It’s been almost four weeks since Sam Tomkins announced that he was returning from retirement and for some the decision still hasn’t quite yet sunk in.

Aged 35 off the back of retirement due to a dodgy knee, the former England captain made the decision to re-sign with Catalans Dragons on a deal until the end of the 2024 season.

There have also been suggestions that he could play beyond this deal and compete in the 2025 Super League season which would be even more remarkable.

His decision to return was announced live on Sky Sports where Jenna Brooks reported the shock headline that Sam Tomkins was back.

Current England captain George Williams has now revealed his shock at the decision, something he explained to Brooks and fellow Sky Sports employee Jon Wilkin on the pair’s The Bench Podcast.

Williams learned of the news a day before the announcement as he explained: “He was messaging me saying that they had signed this unbelievable 35-year-old full-back / half-back and I was texting him back going, ‘Why can’t I think of who it is?’

“He then told me that they were English and had retired about 6 months ago and I just replied ‘You’re lying’.”

Can Sam Tomkins guide Catalans to the Grand Final?

Last season was dubbed as ‘The Last Dance’ for Sam Tomkins, even to the extent that a film has been made and is set for release documenting his final season with Catalans.

That’s something that made it even more unbelievable for Williams who continued, adding: “I can’t believe it to be honest. I can’t believe it, especially with the film and all that. He’d had the big farewell and all that, which was brilliant though.”

“Maybe this is definitely the last chance,” Jon Wilkin interjected before revealing what a huge achievement it would be if Sam Tomkins could guide Catalans back to Old Trafford.

“If he gets Catalans to the Grand Final then I’ll be very surprised. I know Sam and Sam is world-class but I watched the full first game he played and he was the best player on the field at 35, having not played rugby for 8 months, so that tells you maybe a lot about Catalans at the minute, a lot about Hull at the minute, but it tells you a lot about Sam.

“Look at Warrington and Wigan, Hull KR, and I just don’t see Catalans on that level at the minute. But if he gets them there, wow, it’ll be some story.”

Currently, Catalans sit inside the playoffs in fifth place, level on points with St Helens and Salford Red Devils. Les Dracs face Hull KR at Magic Weekend but Tomkins will miss out after suffering a hamstring injury.