SAM Tomkins hopes to send James Roby into retirement while some St Helens fans have mascara running down their faces after being ‘stitched up.’
The Catalans ace was reminded of where he comes from as he stood in front of their supporters at Saturday’s play-off win over Warrington while working for Channel 4.
When he got there, he found himself having his make-up done – the hundreds of Wigan haters stood feet away made sure he knew about it.
Now in what would be termed a retirement match if Friday’s semi-final was in WWE – he and Mitchell Pearce also call it quits at the end of the season – he wants any adjustments being done in the away section.
“Saints fans were really welcoming,” Tomkins said sarcastically after being dubbed ‘interbred’ and ‘Wigan scum.’
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“Luckily, the microphone didn’t pick up much of the stuff they were saying but I got a nice reception, as you’d expect.
“Channel 4 said they were at the St Helens end, so I said, ‘That’s brilliant.’ As soon as we stood there, the make-up lady started touching up my make-up, that’s when the fans got their vocal chords going.
“It felt a bit like a stitch-up!”
Tomkins knows Friday’s Perpignan clash against the four-time defending champions is huge, for him, his club and French rugby league as a whole.
However, he does not want it to be his last. He craves an Old Trafford finale against the club where it all started.
But he has an all-time great in Roby standing in front of him - as a person, not just a player has both faced and teamed up with for England.
The full back believes, however, Paul Wellens’ side must improve from Saturday’s 16-8 win if they are to keep alive hopes of five titles in a row.
He added: “James has been the most consistent player for well over a decade. You watch video, saying, ‘He’ll do this or that,’ but stopping it is a different thing.
“He’s a legend of a bloke. He’s not bad when you play against him and he’s not under-appreciated. There’s not a rugby fan who won’t put him alongside the greats of our game.
“I don’t know how he’s still going at his age – he’s played in the middle for 19 years but hopefully this is his last game and the match v Warrington wasn’t very good!
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“My plan is to win and prepare for a game the weekend after, so it’s not felt emotional preparing for it – and the dream ending would be playing Wigan at Old Trafford and winning, without doubt.”
Catalans boss Steve McNamara will make a call today on whether half back Pearce will play on Friday after damaging his hamstring against Salford.
