Sam Tomkins has made a habit of writing his own scripts during his legendary rugby league career but even this, by his own lofty standards, is some story.
Tomkins has seen and done it all in this game throughout a stellar stint at the very top of the sport. But he arrived in Perpignan at the start of 2018 with the goal of helping Catalans Dragons become the first French side to win the Super League Grand Final and incredibly, in his final game as a professional, he could do exactly that.
It was only fitting he was central to the finale of this remarkable semi-final that ensured it would be Catalans, and not the reigning champions, St Helens, to Old Trafford next Saturday. With seconds remaining and an absorbing playoff tie seeming destined for extra-time, Tomkins stepped through a gap in the line, like he has so many times in his prime, to settle matters.
In the blink of an eye, Tomkins transformed a level game into more history for Catalans, confirming their victory and their place at Old Trafford. “What a game,” the victorious coach, Steve McNamara, said. “There was nothing in it but for Sam to nail that at the end, it was incredible. We’ve got a chance to do something special.”
For every winner though, there is a loser. Tomkins knew his career would end with defeat here, as did the legendary St Helens captain, James Roby. Ultimately, Saints’ greatest-ever player has now played his final match after their quest for a record-extending fifth successive league title came to an end here.
“There’s a lot of emotions right now, we’re hugely disappointed but at some point, this run was going to end,” their coach, Paul Wellens, conceded afterwards. It looked like it would be the Saints heading to Old Trafford going into the final stages here after they crafted a lead in a fiery, sold-out Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan.
Catalans edged a nerve-shredding first half 2-0 at the break courtesy of an Adam Keighran penalty, with neither side able to find any rhythm. You felt the first try of the night could be crucial and nine minutes after the restart, the Saints claimed it when Will Hopoate cut through on the angle to make it 6-2 in the champions’ favour.
Catalans responded with two more penalties from Keighran to level the scores, the second coming after Matty Lees was sin-binned for the Saints. Level at 6-6, it seemed certain to go to golden point, with both teams’ seasons on the line.
But Tomkins, as he has done so many times, had the decisive say. He shaped for a drop goal, stepped and jinked through the Saints’ exhausted defence to send Perpignan wild, and move Catalans to the brink of history.
