LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Former New Zealand Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins has announced his second retirement from rugby league, effective immediately. This decision comes after he previously retired in 2023 due to ongoing knee problems that affected the latter part of his career.
Tomkins made a return in mid-2024 to finish his time with the Catalans Dragons in the Super League but has now confirmed that his professional playing days are over for good.
With a remarkable career that includes two Man of Steel awards, three Grand Final appearances, and two Challenge Cup victories, Tomkins concludes his journey with a total of 290 Super League matches played for both the Wigan Warriors and Dragons, as well as 37 matches for the New Zealand Warriors.
Tomkins transitioned to the NRL in 2014 for a then-world-record fee of $1.5 million. Unfortunately, he did not meet expectations and departed from the league earlier than planned due to a combination of injuries and homesickness.
Despite being labeled a disappointment during his time at the Warriors, Tomkins expressed in 2017 that he had no regrets about his experience with the team, which struggled to reach the finals during his two seasons there.
RELATED: How Sam Tomkins nearly joined the Rabbitohs