Ex-England captain, 35, has linked up with former Kangaroos stand-off Keary in pre-season training as they begin to forge a partnership they hope will flourish in Super League
Sam Tomkins admits he’s excited to be linking up with NRL legend Luke Keary as Catalans bid to fire back in 2025.
Just as ex-England captain Tomkins performed a retirement U-turn to make a playing comeback in July, Sydney Roosters stand-off Keary also shelved plans to quit.
The former New South Wales State of Origin and Australia star, 32, took up a two-year deal in Perpignan to have his first stab at Super League. Keary, who played for Ireland in the last World Cup, won NRL Grand Finals with Roosters and South Sydney.
After failing to make the play-offs last season, Catalans were in dire need of a chief playmaker and he fits the bill perfectly.
Tomkins, 35, said: “We’ve signed really well in terms of experience. Last year it was clear we were missing some experience at times and people like Keary, [Tommy] Makinson and [Elliott] Whitehead coming in – players who have played a long time at a high level – will certainly be a massive asset for us.
“And Keary is a very smart player. I’ve been doing a lot of work with him the last few weeks in terms of how we’re going to play and attack and he has a lot of good ideas. We just have to get them into practice.”
It remains to be seen whether Tomkins plays at full-back or half-back for Steve McNamara’s side. He admitted: “I don’t know what position exactly I’ll be in yet.
“We’ve got some competition right through the group and I think Steve has some headaches already on what his starting team will be. “But whether I’m playing half-back or full-back, I don’t know. And I’ll play wherever.”
Ex-Wigan ace Tomkins, who has signed a one-year deal with Catalans where he’s been since 2019, isn’t thinking about whether this is the definitive last hurrah or not. He said: “I’m focusing on round one rather than what will be happening after next season. I feel fit and have done a lot of work in pre-season. I’m feeling healthy and ready to go.
“My focus is the same as the rest of the players: purely on this season, definitely not beyond that.”
But he admitted he did enjoy working as team manager with England during the autumn’s two-Test series whitewash of Samoa. Tomkins, who scored 18 tries in 29 appearances for his country, hopes to lend his experience to Shaun Wane’s squad again when the Ashes take place in 2025.
He stepped down from playing for England after captaining them in the World Cup in 2022.
But on the administrative role, Tomkins admitted: “I really enjoyed it. It was a good opportunity for me to do something I’ve not really done before.
“I loved being in international camp as a player and as a staff member I enjoyed it just as much. It’s a great group to work for and it’s something I’d like to continue doing as well. We’ve not spoken about it properly yet but will certainly put my hand up to do it again.”
