News about Sam Tomkins

ROSS HEPPENSTALL AT OLD TRAFFORD: Liam Marshall was the try-scoring hero once more as Wigan regained their championship grit and condemned Catalans Dragons to another agonizing Grand Final loss. Marshall, a homegrown winger, has had a fruitful season and his remarkably strong finish in the 52nd minute, leading Matt Peet's men on their way to victory. After beating Huddersfield Giants at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Peet's debut campaign as coach last term, it was Marshall who had the winning try when the cherry and whites won the Challenge Cup.

Sam Tomkins should not be playing at Old Trafford by his own admission. He saw four different specialists in navigating England's home World Cup in the fall. Their verdict? 'They all said I should go straight away,' says the 34-year-old. 'But I thought I knew better than four knee specialists!' However, the Catalans full-back came to a close as the experts after playing his first match of the new Super League season against Leigh.

DAVE COVERDALE: Sam Tomkins came to a dramatic conclusion to his career after his last-gasp heroics led Catalans into the Grand Final and ended St Helens' Super League supremacy. With the score standings at 6-6 with two minutes remaining in this thrilling play-off semi-final, ex-England captain Tomkins slipped under the posts to win by the Dragons in a thrilling victory. That means the retiring Super League legend may now win his fourth Grand Final - and first for his French club.

On Friday night, a Super League legend will be sent into retirement, but Sam Tomkins is assured it will not be him. Tomkins, 34, and St Helens captain James Roby, 37, are both wearing their boots at the end of this season, with 719 Super League appearances, two Man of Steel awards, and nine Grand Final trophies between them. On Friday, the former England teammates will face the Saints in their play-off semi-finals in France. And though one of the game will have a chance to end their career in fairytale fashion at Old Trafford next Saturday, the Stade Gilbert Brutus showdown will be their final match.

OSS HEPPENSTALL: After a tumultuous victory at Leigh that saw them finish second in Super League and secure a week off until their play-off semi-finals, Wigan Warriors are looking for Grand Final glory. Matt Peet's side defeated Leigh Sports Village 10-6 on Friday to clinch the League Leaders' Shield, ensuring they advance to a home semi-final in a fortnight. Leigh, who ended the regular season in fifth, was on a sadistic night and will now fly to Hull, KR, for a sudden-death eliminator on Friday.

Catalans were sent by Tom Johnstone's Magic Weekend Hat-trick to the Super League summit, confirming that he is back to his lethal best. The England winger has had a traumatic few years following two anterior cruciate ligament setbacks and a groin injury that ended his time at Wakefield Trinity early last year. But the 27-year-old wide man's superb form as Catalans defeated Wigan 46-22, demonstrating his transformative role.

Sam Tomkins, a legend in Rugby League, will retire at the end of the 2023 season. The 33-year-old Catalans full back said a persistent problem with his left knee had contributed to his decision, and the Dragons will play off-field. In 2012 and 2021, Tomkins received the Man of Steel award in the Super League. He has also competed in two World Cups for England, captaining his nation's bid to the semi-finals of the most recent tournament last fall. Last year, it was on my mind.' 'I had a knee injury that was impossible to get through,' Tomkins told Sky Sports. 'It was of utmost importance to me at the end of the season.'

England has 'no doubt' that the team will win a World Cup,' says Prop Mike Cooper. However, the same thing was said in Brisbane five years ago when England lost 6-0 to Australia in the final after losing 6-0. And if they can't do the work in their own backyard, there is no reason to believe it will be any different in France three years' time.

DAVID COVERDALE: If England goes on to win the World Cup, they can thank a 30-pint binge in Manchester for putting them on the path to glory. Victor Radley, who was born and brought up in Sydney, where he now plays for the Roosters in the NRL, was considered by many before the tournament. However, if Radley was worried about how he would be welcomed by his new teammates, his skipper Sam Tomkins soon made him feel welcome, and in true English fashion. 'He was the first to send me a message and said, 'Come down for a coffee', which turned into about 30 pints!' Smiles Radley, who qualified for England through his Sheffield-born father.

For the second time in less than a month, England faces Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals this weekend. In their first game of the tournament, the Three Lions defeated their inesvitable opponents by 64-6, with Shaun Wane's side retaining their imperious form since. Samoa, who were picked by many to impress, have certainly improved their level since losing by a large margin, blowing away France and Greece, before leading out a determined Tonga team.

When England takes on Samoa in Saturday's semi-finals at the Emirates Stadium, veteran prop Chris Hill will rank second on the all-time list of top appearance makers in Rugby League World Cups. In a 56-6 victory over Papua New Guinea last Saturday, a revived Hill, who turned 35 last week, beat British records set by John Atkinson, Roger Millward, and George Nicholls.

Hall, 34, has scored 39 goals in his 40 appearances for England, but has lost out to 21-year-old Dom Young, who has had a wild start to his international career with a tournament-best eight tries in his three games. Young, whose lethal finish has sparked comparisons with Martin Offiah, was favored over Hall for England's first match against Samoa, but he has done enough to keep his position. Tommy Makinson, who deputised fully back for a rested Sam Tomkins' 94-4 victory over Greece, moves to the other wing for the knockout stages. Forwards Andy Ackers, Joe Batchelor, Mikolaj Oledzki, and Luke Thompson were among the other players cut from the 24-man squad when Wane cut it to 19. After being left out the last match, Tomkins, centers Kallum Watkins and Herbie Farnworth, as well as forwards Michael McIlorum and Elliott Whitehead return to the squad. Following his 30-point haul, man-of-the-match triumph against the Greeks, Wane has kept goal-kicking scrum-half Marc Sneyd in his 19th, but Jack Welsby is expected to pair him with a resurgent George Williams at halftime.

Ryan Hall had just added two more tries to his record England total than he had been tipping his new teammate to top him. "I'm sure if he's as professional as he has been so far, I'm sure he's going to catch it," the 34-year-old said. 'I'm positive you'll hear his name for years and years to come.' After a brace of his own against France on Saturday night, Hall was referring to Dom Young, who now has four tries from two Tests.

Following a postponement of England's Rugby League World Cup match against Samoa, Ricky Wilson attempted to motivate the crowd at St James' Park on Saturday. When gesturing to the crowd and attempting to start a Mexican wave, the Kaiser Chiefs front man ran the length of the pitch. He came out of breath quickly, but the Newcastle crowd was able to elicit some life from them.

The best players in the world will descend on the country for a month-long festival of rugby league, postponed from last year, when main attractions Australia and New Zealand refused to travel. England captain Sam Tomkins has tasted every bit of success on a domestic level, but he is still searching for the highest of sporting accolades: international silverware. Here are the key differences between him and the fantasy.

It's no wonder he confessed to it ahead of Saturday's World Cup opener against Samoa: 'I've been bored for the past two years, so I'm looking forward to it.' It's been a long time coming.' The Covid pandemic destroyed England's autumn series against Australia in 2020. After the Australians and New Zealand refused to travel, the home World Cup was postponed by 12 months this year.

Sam Tomkins is envisioning how he will feel on Saturday afternoon as he leads his country out in the first match of their home World Cup. To Sportsmail, the England captain admits that it will be a little bit emotional.' I'm really proud to be English, so to be able to lead the country in a sport that has ignited my passion and zeal since five years ago is something very special.' It doesn't get any better than this.' That is some admission from a player as talented and experienced as Tomkins, who burst onto the scene with five tries on his first for his home team, Wigan Warriors, on his first day.

Ryan Hall, England's highest try scorer, has been left out of the squad for Samoa's Rugby League World Cup opener on Saturday, with new boy Dom Young expected to start on the wing. The five members of Shaun Wane's 24-man team are Hall, as well as Andy Ackers, Joe Batchelor, Mikolaj Oldezki, and the suspended John Bateman. It means Young, who plays for Newcastle Knights in the NRL, will have another opportunity to impress after starring with a try and two assists on his England debut last week's 50-0 warm-up win over Fiji.

The Rugby League World Cup will feature 16 nations competing in 31 matches in the men's competition, but it will boil down to one very difficult question: How do you beat Australia? The Kangaroos are the mighty force in international Rugby League, and although the tournament has just started, they are still a strong favorite to win in England as the finals are played here from October to November. Australia's dominance - some bookies are offering odds of 3-1 - comes from the fact that the game down-under is so popular, it outnumbers every other region, even England - it will result in more money, strength, and better players.

If Super League history has taught you anything, it is that you will never write off Leeds Rhinos. After their disappointing start to the season, the eight-time champions seemed more likely to be relegated than to reach the play-offs. However, a resurgent Rhinos secured a fifth-place finish after the inspiration of Australian coach Rohan Smith in April.