SAM Tomkins' dream of ending his glittering career with one last Grand Final win was shattered by his former club as Wigan summoned a stirring second-half display to sink Catalans Dragons 10-2 at Old Trafford last night.
Liam Marshall grabbed the only try of the game to secure hardfought but ultimately comfortable win for Matt Peet's men, sealing their sixth domestic showpiece and their first since 2018.
Tomkins, who was embraced by his friend and former team-mate, Wigan captain Liam Farrell at the final whistle, will head into retirement reflecting on a pair of yellow cards that effectively cost his side any chance of victory.
Adam Keighran was sin-binned midway through the first period and Tom Davies followed suit for an intentional block on Marshall in the second half as Catalans came up short for the second time in three years.
It was a tough night all round for Tomkins, who had been served an early reminder that he would be done no favours on his final appearance when he was taken out by Farrell in the process of punting a high ball forward in the third minute.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 15, 2023 من MEN on Sunday.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 15, 2023 من MEN on Sunday.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Pep admits: We could not handle Cherries
PEP Guardiola said that City were not 'clean' enough to cope with Bournemouth as they suffered their first Premier League defeat for 11 months.
United chiefs told me it was now or never
New Reds coach says he asked to stay at Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season, but he was given Old Trafford ultimatum
Curzon boss Craig wants more magic moments in cup
EVEN guiding his team to a shock victory over Mansfield would be unlikely to usurp Craig Mahon's favourite FA Cup memory.
Any encounter with wild nature is memorable in some way
COMEDIAN AND FORMER STRICTLY WINNER BILL BAILEY TALKS TO PRUDENCE WADE ABOUT THE ANIMALS THAT HAVE SHAPED HIS LIFE
Drink-drive firefighter 'haunted by tragedies
Single mum who was almost three times limit is handed fine
Doubt over promised cash for North transport plans
TWO major transport projects in the North of England have been thrown into doubt after Rachel Reeves failed to commit to funding pledges made by the previous Conservative government.
Law change could end out-of-area taxis issue
TAXIS licensed by Wolverhampton council could be BANNED from working in Greater Manchester with a proposed law change.
How a quiet night in lab changed science
Miracle material created in city is 200 times stronger than steel
'As long as Barry can see pals at the pub, he'll be OK ra
Dad's devastating MND diagnosis
The chilly reception to exit of Iceland
How the closure of suburb's last cheap shop' symbolises a change that some residents would prefer hadn't happened