Sam Tomkins and James Roby bid to stave off retirement in a semi-final showdown as the Super League legends target a ‘fairytale finish’ by reaching the Grand Final

A Tremendous League legend will probably be despatched into retirement on Friday evening – however Sam Tomkins is decided it is not going to be him.

Catalans star Tomkins, 34, and St Helens captain James Roby, 37, are each hanging up their boots on the finish of this season having to date amassed 719 Tremendous League appearances, two Man of Metal awards and 9 Grand Remaining trophies between them.

The previous England team-mates will face-off in France on Friday when the Dragons host Saints of their play-off semi-final. And whereas one nice of the sport will get the prospect to finish their profession in fairytale vogue at Previous Trafford subsequent Saturday, for the opposite, this Stade Gilbert Brutus showdown will probably be their ultimate match.

‘I don’t need this to be my final sport,’ mentioned Tomkins, whose facet beat defending champions Saints twice within the common season and completed above them within the desk on factors distinction.

‘I do know it’s the final time I’ll play at house, which will probably be particular. I‘m very lucky that my final sport right here will probably be such a giant one.

Catalans Dragons star Sam Tomkins is decided to achieve the Grand Remaining at Previous Trafford

Tomkins hailed St Helens captain James Roby however needs to ship him into retirement on Friday

‘However it’s not felt emotional getting ready for it as a result of I don’t see it as a ultimate sport. The plan is to win after which put together for a sport the weekend after.

‘We’ve acquired a giant problem forward however hopefully it will likely be two extra video games. They’ve acquired to come back 1,000 miles to play us. It’s undoubtedly a bonus for us.’

On his retiring rival Roby, the ex-England skipper mentioned: ‘He’s been probably the most constant participant for nicely over a decade. He’s a legend of a bloke. He has had an excellent, nice profession.

‘I don’t assume there’s a rugby fan that doesn’t put him proper up there as one of many greats of our sport. However hopefully it’s his final sport this week.’

Tomkins, who will keep on at Catalans as an envoy after he retires, joined the French membership in 2019 from Wigan, the place he gained three Grand Finals over two spells.

Now he may end his profession in opposition to his outdated membership, because the Warriors meet Hull KR in Saturday’s second semi-final.

‘The dream ending can be enjoying Wigan at Previous Trafford and profitable,’ Tomkins added. ‘If I can win the primary Tremendous League title for the Dragons in my final sport, it could imply greater than another trophy I’ve ever gained.’

St Helens boss Paul Wellens, in the meantime, is out to kill off Tomkins’ dream in Perpignan on Friday evening. However he has paid tribute to a participant who first got here to his consideration when Saints beat Wigan in a play-off semi-final in 2009.

St Helens boss Paul Wellens hailed Tomkins as one of many Tremendous League’s greatest ever gamers

‘I used to be like, “Who is that this child?”,’ recalled Wellens, who additionally coached Tomkins with England. ‘I used to be stunned by somebody who got here on the sector and actually troubled us that evening.

‘You simply knew in that second you had been enjoying in opposition to a particular participant who’s going to go a great distance within the sport.

‘That is confirmed to be appropriate. He’s been arguably one in all Tremendous League’s greatest ever. Though we’re on reverse groups, it is not misplaced on any of us on the membership how good of a participant Sam has been.

‘So no matter occurs on Friday evening, a legend of Tremendous League will retire. We simply hope it is not ours.’