STEEL MAN TOMKINS TO RETIRE

RUGBY LEAGUE legend Sam tomkins will retire at the end of the 2023 season. the 33-year-old Catalans full back said a persistent issue with his left knee has contributed to his decision, and he will take an off-field role with the dragons. tomkins won Super League’s Man of Steel award in 2012 and 2021. He also appeared in two World Cups for england, captaining his country to the semi-final stage at the most recent tournament last autumn. ‘It was on my mind last year. I had a knee injury which was a struggle to get through,’ tomkins told Sky Sports. ‘With the World Cup being at the end of the season, it was of massive importance to me. ‘I had the opportunity to captain my country in a World Cup so it was basically a case of doing everything possible to get through that.

‘I spoke to lots of specialists, some of the best around, and they all came back with the same conclusion that my knee was pretty spent.

‘I wanted to get it out there now that this is my last season, and I can hopefully be successful this year and enjoy it.’