EMOTION PICTURE
Tomkins says documentary is full of highs and lows as it charts final season as player
HE’S always seen as a pantomime villain, but Sam Tomkins hopes to reveal his true self in a new ground-breaking documentary.
The legendary ex-Wigan star allowed access-all-areas to filmmakers for the final few months of his career.
Tomkins: The Last Chance is an in-depth look at the player and the man as the former England captain dramatically steered Catalans to last season’s
Super League
Grand Final (Tomkins with head coach Steve McNamara, right).
Pieced together with exclusive footage and interviews with family, team-mates and coaches, Tomkins admits it’s an “emotional” watch. But it’s laced with humour, not least hearing his mum call him a “mummy’s boy” and the on-field exchanges picked up when wearing a microphone in his shirt for the final four games. Made by Jam Films and produced and directed by Joe Gardiner, Tomkins, 34, explained: “There’s not many rugby league documentaries out there and they’ve never focused on a player. Joe thought I had a good story to tell. And after a few chats, it got me excited.
“The first part is about me growing up and then the second is the last year at Catalans being my last chance. It was almost like we had to get to a Grand Final to make it worthwhile.
“With the microphone, it’s never been done before. It’s quite funny hearing what you’re saying in the heat of the battle. There’s a few embarrassing ones as well.
“It was strange as inevitably you never hear that back – what gets said in dressing rooms and during the entirety of a game. But it does get documented here.”
The film delves into the pain of the fullback being told he should retire.
You hear his elation as his last-gasp try defeats champions St Helens to reach Old Trafford – and witness the agony of defeat against Wigan (a dejected Tomkins at full-time, above) with his family also miked up in the stands. England boss Shaun Wane,
Three
Lions captain George Williams and ex-Wigan team-mate Josh Charnley all feature in the documentary.
They will also join Tomkins on stage for a ticketed Q&A at the film premiere at Wigan’s The Edge on Wednesday, February 28.
Interviewed back at his home in the south of France, he said: “It’s both sides of my life, on and off the field.
“Throughout my career I’ve probably been the pantomime villain, but that’s not what I’m really like.
“I’m a husband and dad of four. It’s interesting when my kids get asked questions on the film!
“The vast majority of people only know Sam Tomkins the rugby player – they don’t know what I’m like at home.
“I spend two hours a week on the field. I’m a family man more than anything else. That’s what the documentary gets across: the balance.”
▪ Tickets for Tomkins: The Last Chance premiere and Q&A on Wednesday, February 28, from quaytickets.com/theedge