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After combined careers totalling 865 domestic appearances, nine Super League Grand Final triumphs and six Challenge Cup wins, two of rugby league\u2019s most talismanic figures will take to the pitch in Perpignan on Friday in the knowledge that their game is almost up.<\/p>\n
Either James Roby or Sam Tomkins will feature in their final match in the Super League play-off semi-final between Catalans Dragons and St Helens, with the winner earning one last shot at enhancing those already-historic statistics in the Grand Final later this month.<\/p>\n
While Roby and Tomkins have been at pains to play down the significance of their impending personal retirements, the significance has not been lost on the sport with Saints head coach Paul Wellens convinced it may never again hail stars of such longevity and records of sustained success.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are maybe the last of their era,\u201d said Wellens, whose side kept alive their hopes of rounding off 37-year-old Roby\u2019s career with an unprecedented fifth-successive Grand Final win when they nudged to a 16-8 victory over Warrington last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think anyone will be hitting the astronomical numbers that James Roby has hit in terms of appearances. Players get struck down more with concussions and suspensions and we are looking to reduce the number of games we play each year.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSam is someone I was playing against back in 2008 or 2009 when he burst onto the scene with Wigan in a play-off game at Knowsley Road.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was like, \u2018who is this kid?\u2019 because I was taken aback by someone who came onto the field and really troubled us that night. You just knew at the moment you were playing against a special player and that\u2019s proven to be correct. He\u2019s been one of Super League\u2019s best ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Tomkins, who won three Grand Finals and two Challenge Cups with Wigan before moving on \u2013 via a stint in Australia\u2019s NRL \u2013 to make a huge impact on Catalans\u2019 development in 2019, the possibly of culminating his career by facing his former club at Old Trafford remains at the forefront of his mind.<\/p>\n
Catalans were pipped to the League Leaders\u2019 Shield on the final day of the regular campaign, but victory over Saints would confirm their second Grand Final appearance against the winners of Saturday\u2019s second semi-final between Wigan and Hull KR.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dream ending would be playing Wigan at Old Trafford and winning,\u201d admitted Tomkins.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want nothing more than to bring silverware to the Dragons, so to be able to be a part of it in my last-ever game would be a dream come true.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d go as far as to say it would mean more to me than any other trophy I\u2019ve ever won.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll year people have kept saying, this is your last time doing something \u2013 the last time at Wigan, or the last time at St Helens. None of them have really mattered, but this one does.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last time playing at home will certainly be special, but I don\u2019t want this to be my last game.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Tomkins and Roby played together for England on numerous occasions \u2013 notably at the 2013 World Cup \u2013 and despite their enduring domestic rivalry as respective stalwarts of the sport\u2019s most successful rival factions, the 34-year-old had plenty of praise for his rival.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been the most consistent player for well over a decade,\u201d said Tomkins. \u201cI don\u2019t know how he is still going at his age. He is a legend of a bloke. Everyone in rugby league knows what a great servant to the game he has been \u2013 but hopefully it will be his last game this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n