Rugby League News: Tommy Makinson’s Emotional Week Amid St Helens Departure
It’s been an emotional week for newly-wed Tommy Makinson, the St Helens stalwart who has recently announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the season. Last Sunday, Makinson revealed that he will depart Saints after 14 years with the first team, expected to join the Catalans Dragons in 2025, though the French club is yet to officially confirm the move.
Quite fittingly, Makinson scored his 200th try for St Helens in their 40-10 victory over Leeds Rhinos on Friday night, marking his 326th appearance in the iconic Red V jersey. This bittersweet milestone has been accompanied by a rollercoaster of emotions for the player, who also tied the knot with his partner and mother of his two young daughters, Beth, earlier this week.
“I’m obviously buzzing to go over for that amount of tries for the club, it’s special,” Makinson told Love Rugby League. “I’ve got a lot of great players inside of me, I’m very lucky.”
The 31-year-old winger added, “It’s been an emotional week, I got married this week and I obviously announced that I am going to leave the club so there’s been a mixture of emotions but I’m really proud (to score 200).”
St Helens have made no secret of their desire to retain Makinson beyond the end of the current season, but the England international has opted to embark on a new chapter of his career, citing his young family as a key factor in his decision.
“I’ve got a young family as well and a lot of my decision was made around that. I’m really excited by my next move, my next move will hopefully be confirmed pretty soon but I’m really excited for where I’m going next,” Makinson explained.
St Helens head coach Paul Wellens paid tribute to the departing stalwart, highlighting the challenges Makinson and his teammate Lewis Dodd have faced amid speculation over their futures.
“When there’s a lot of speculation around a player’s future, it can be distracting and it can be difficult, no matter whether you’re Lewis’ age in your 20s or if you’re Tommy in your 30s, but those conversations have been done, the fact they are moving on has been dealt with and I think that’s reflecting in their performances.”
Despite the emotional circumstances, Makinson remains determined to finish his time at St Helens in the right way, with the club’s supporters in his heart.
“I’ll always be grateful to Rushy and Eamonn and Wello (Paul Wellens) for doing everything they could for me and those years when I could’ve moved away (to the NRL) I wanted to stay because of the people around the club and the fans, I love them all so much and I’d like to think I’ve repaid them a bit as well.”
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