Retiring at seasons end, what are you memories?

The Tomkins trot in the first derby at Saints at there new ground in front of the home support 2011. Absolutely hilarious.

For me he is talent wise the best player I have seen at Wigan (I’m 37) his first stint was brilliant, shame injuries got a hold of him to stunt his career a little but it says a lot that he lost a lot of his speed and agility (his main assets), changed his game and still won a man of steel in his 30s

2012.

His try at Magic that season was something special too.

Nobody has played super league at higher level than Sam Tomkins 2010-2013.

Was simply unplayable and should have had 4 straight man of steels in them years.

Middle of his career derailed by serious knee injuries but the way he came back and adapted his game between 2018-2021 in particular was brilliant.

Best memories

5 try debut alongside Trent Barrett in 2008

The general excitement when he brought a spark to us in 2009

His try in the 2010 GF (I was 16 at the time and had never seen us win a GF).

His try off a kick off against Warrington in 2011 in the challenge cup quarter final

His try in the semi against saints at Warrington that same year.

2012 his try and trot in front of the saints fans at the first derby at their new place.

2012 his magical try against saints at magic.

2013 his try to put the icing on the cake of the challenge cup win.

Both his final games were Wigan were grand finals wins. Born winner.

2015 the half time announcement that be retuning.

2018 his sideline drop goal to beat Leeds at headingly.

Special special player. It’s a shame he didn’t play more years at Wigan and that 2015/16/17 were pretty much write offs with injury.

If you listen to him on the high performance podcast you’ll understand that challenges are important to him and moves to New Zealand and France were tests in his journey.

Along with Lockers my favourite player.

Thanks Sam!

Just a wonderful player and such a competitor.

Maybe not my favourite moment but I always vividly remember him scoring a try out if nothing showing great pace, agility and skill to finish it with a chip and regather to score to the left of the sticks in front of the Wakefield supporters.

It’s one of a few times I’ve heard a crowd just go quiet in appreciation of what they had seen and that included the partisan Trinity crowd.

SL will be a worse competition without him.

Has to be the next legends night

Best player I’ve ever watched. As an opposition fan you just hoped he had an off night. If he played decent, you know Wigan wins. Remember being so thankful he was out for the 2012 play off semi at yours!

Once in a generation player, peak Tomkins was on a different level to everyone else playing at that time, privilege to see him play

Great player,even scored when knocked out !

Try he scored against Warrington at Warrington something special.

I could watch that try 7 days a week.
An absolutely fabulous try scored with panache and it seemed almost effortless.
Brilliant brilliant try.

Fine player agree with all that’s been said

Wigan TV should do a compilation.

Can Wigan have him back please

A sign of how good he’s been is how detested he is with many supporters across the game. He just terrorised teams over and again to a level I’ve not really seen anybody do before. It was an absolute disgrace that he lost out on another couple of man of steel awards he should’ve got.

I think the biggest compliment you can give him and something that shows his class is how well he’s adapted his game since his pace went. The game was easy for him in his early days but it takes a special player to reinvent themselves.

Pretty gutted I’ll not get to see him live again as I’m away for the two games we have left against them.

The Anus of Wigan episode

He is the best Wigan fullback I have ever seen and I am quite a bit older than you Craig. At his best he was virtually unplayable.

I've watched Wigan since the mid 1950's and Sam is the best fullback I've ever seen at the club.

As many have said those two tries against Saints were standout moments but for me my favourite moment and the time I realised what an exceptional talent he was came in an academy final v Leeds at Leeds.
In the semi v Widnes a mass brawl broke out and Wigan were then missing about five players for the final.

Wigan were just in front when Leeds kicked a ball just inside the dead ball line. Sam left it waiting for it to go dead, it didn't and Leeds scored. He was so annoyed with himself beating the pitch with his fists in frustration.

A few minutes later Sam got the ball about sixty metres out, beat three men with ridiculous ease and about thirty metres out slipped a beautiful pass to Chris Ashton who went in under the posts.

That's when I saw desire, competitiveness and will to win in him, something that can't really be coached.

He had a certain arrogance about him in his younger years that all good half backs need. Some have it without really deserving it, but he could truly back it up.

It's what separates the great from the really great.

His reaction to the Wire no try in 2010 at their place a key example of that passion.

Agreed, I’ve only been watching since 1966, but in my view he would walk into, and improve, any Wigan team I’ve seen.

Jesus imagine prime Sam in the halves with Fields and French now