Tommy Makinson

Tommy Makinson

Personal information
Full name	Thomas Makinson
Born	(1992-10-10) 10 October 1992 (age 32) Ince-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Weight	14 st 5 lb (91 kg)[1]
Playing information
Position	Wing, Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2011–24 St Helens 348 201 273 1 1412 2013(loan) → Rochdale Hornets 1 3 0 0 12 2013(loan) → Whitehaven 1 2 0 0 0 2025– Catalans Dragons 0 0 0 0 0 Total 350 206 273 1 1424 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2018– England 10 13 20 0 92
Source: [2][3] As of 29 September 2024

Tommy Makinson (born 10 October 1991) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a Fullback and winger for Catalans Dragons in the Super League and England at international level.

He spent time on loan from St Helens at the Rochdale Hornets in Championship 1 and Whitehaven in the Championship.

Earlier in his career he also played as a fullback and centre. Makinson has played his entire Super League career to date for Saints, with whom he won the 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021 and the 2022 Super League Grand Finals.

Background

Makinson was born in Ince-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.

Career

Makinson signed for the St Helens club from Wigan amateur side Wigan St Judes, after previously playing for Hindley before playing for Halton Hornets.^[4] He played in the 2011 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.^[5][6] St Helens reached the 2014 Super League Grand Final, and Makinson was selected to play on the wing, scoring a try in their 14–6 victory over the Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Makinson played in the 2019 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.^[11] He played in the 2019 Super League Grand Final victory over the Salford Red Devils at Old Trafford, slotting a stunning drop goal in the process.^[12][13][14]

On 16 August 2020, Makinson was charged by the RFL and was given a Grade F "other contrary behaviour", (the most serious grade on the disciplinary panel, which carries a minimum punishment of eight games' suspension) for an alleged low grab on Castleford Tigers Liam Watts, during which the incident was placed on report by referee Liam Moore. He appeared before a disciplinary hearing on 17 August 2020, to find out the length of his suspension. Makinson contested the decision of his grade; the tribunal accepted his challenge, and decided that due to his previous disciplinary record, his Grade was downgraded to a Grade E, and he was given a five-match suspension, and fined £500. He was unavailable for selection until early October.^[15]

Makinson played in the club's 8-4 2020 Super League Grand Final victory over Wigan at the Kingston Communications Stadium in Hull; his 80th minute drop-goal attempt rebounded off the goal sticks and led to the winning try.^[16] He played for St. Helens in their 2021 Challenge Cup Final victory over Castleford, scoring a try in a 26-12 triumph.^[17]

In round 19 of the 2021 Super League season, Makinson was sent off during St Helens' shock 20-10 loss against Castleford.^[18] He played for St Helens in their 2021 Super League Grand Final victory over Catalans Dragons; in the second half, he was sent to the sin bin and thus became the first player to be sin-binned in a Super League Grand Final.^[19] In round 23 of the 2022 Super League season, Makinson scored two tries and kicked eight goals in St Helens' 60-6 victory over Hull F.C.^[20] The following week in round 24, he scored two tries and kicked seven goals in St Helens' 38-12 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers.^[21] In the 2022 semi-final, Makinson was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul during St Helens' 19-12 victory over Salford which sent the club into their fourth consecutive grand final.^[22] On 24 September 2022, he played for St Helens in their 2022 Super League Grand Final victory over Leeds.^[23] On 18 February 2023, Makinson played in St Helens 13-12 upset victory over Penrith in the 2023 World Club Challenge.^[24] In round 14 of the 2023 Super League season, Makinson scored four tries and kicked six goals in St Helens 48-6 victory over Huddersfield.^[25] In the 2023 Challenge Cup semi-final, Makinson missed two crucial conversions as St Helens lost to Leigh 12-10 including one conversion attempt right at the end of the match which would have sent the game into extra-time.^[26] On 13 August 2023, Makinson scored a hat-trick for St Helens in their 32-18 victory over Huddersfield.^[27] Makinson played 23 games for St Helens in the 2023 Super League season scoring 23 tries as the club finished third on the table. He played in St Helens narrow loss against the Catalans Dragons in the semi-final which ended St Helens four-year dominance of the competition.^[28] In round 11 of the 2024 Super League season, Makinson was sent off in St Helens 60-6 victory over Castleford.^[29] On 19 May 2024, Makinson announced he would be departing St Helens at the end of the season after 14 years with the club.^[30] On 25 May 2024, Makinson scored his 200th try for St Helens in their 40-10 victory over Leeds.^[31]

On 12 June 2024, Makinson signed a two-year deal to join the Catalans Dragons starting in 2025.^[32] Makinson played 21 matches for St Helens in the 2024 Super League season scoring 14 tries. His last game for the club was their golden point extra-time elimination playoff loss against Warrington.^[33]

International career

Makinson enjoyed a stellar 2018 season, being included in the Super League Dream Team and playing a starring role in England's 2–1 series victory over New Zealand. This included a hat-trick in the second Test at Anfield.^[34] In November 2018 he won the Rugby League World Golden Boot Award over James Tedesco, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Elliot Whitehead.^[35] On 15 October 2022, Makinson scored one try and kicked ten goals in England's opening game of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup against Samoa. England would win the match 60-6.^[36] In the quarter-final of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, Makinson became the first player to score five tries for England in a game as they won 46-6 against Papua New Guinea.^[37]

References

1. "Thomas Makinson St Helens". www.superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
2. loverugbyleague
3. RLP
4. "St Helens Profile". saintsrlfc.com. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
5. "Leeds claim Grand Final glory as inspired Rob Burrow sinks St Helens". Guardian. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
6. "St Helens 16 Leeds 32". The Daily Telegraph. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
7. Cartwright, Phil (11 October 2014). "St Helens v Wigan as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
8. "St Helens 14 Wigan Warriors 6: Moment of madness from Wales international Ben Flower costs Wigan dear". The Daily Telegraph. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
9. "St Helens win Grand Final after Wigan's Ben Flower is sent off". Guardian. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
10. "St Helens 14–6 Wigan Warriors". BBC Sport. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
11. "St Helens 4-18 Warrington RESULT: Challenge Cup Final as it happened from Wembley". Daily Mirror. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
12. "St Helens give Justin Holbrook the perfect send-off with commanding Grand Final victory over Salford". The Daily Telegraph. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
13. Unwin, Will (12 October 2019). "St Helens 23-6 Salford Red Devils: Super League Grand Final – as it happened". The Guardian.
14. "St Helens win 2019 Super League League Leaders' shield". Sky Sports.
15. "Tommy Makinson Banned For 5 Matches". BBC Sport. 19 August 2020.
16. "Super League Grand Final: Wigan 4-8 St Helens". BBC Sport.
17. "How St Helens players have celebrated their first Challenge Cup win in 13 years". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
18. "Super League: Greg Eden's double helps Castleford Tigers roar to 20-10 win away to St Helens". Sky Sports.
19. "Super League Grand Final: Catalans Dragons 10-12 St Helens: Saints win three in a row". BBC Sport.
20. "Super League: Hull FC 6-60 St Helens - Saints confirm semi-final with 11-try demolition". BBC Sport.
21. "Super League: St Helens 38-12 Hull KR - Saints win to maintain home record". BBC Sport.
22. "St Helens look set to be without Morgan Knowles for Super League Grand Final". Sky Sports.
23. Bower, Aaron (24 September 2022). "St Helens sink Leeds to win record fourth consecutive Grand Final". The Guardian.
24. "St Helens stun Penrith to win World Club Challenge". BBC Sport.
25. "Tommy Makinson: Saints can use Magic win as a springboard". www.sthelensstar.co.uk. 5 June 2023.
26. "Saints' Challenge Cup defeat down to failings of attack". www.sthelensstar.co.uk. 23 July 2023.
27. "Super League: St Helens 32-18 Huddersfield Giants - Saints overcome Giants comeback to move third". BBC Sport.
28. "Paul Wellens Q&A: Saints review of year and a look to 2024". www.sthelensstar.co.uk. 14 October 2023.
29. "St Helens romp to 10-try victory at Castleford". www.bbc.co.uk. 10 May 2024.
30. "Makinson to leave St Helens at end of the season". www.bbc.co.uk.
31. "Flying wing Tommy Makinson grabs his 200th try for St Helens". www.sthelensstar.co.uk.
32. "St Helens winger Makinson to join Catalans in 2025". www.bbc.co.uk.
33. "'Soul destroying': Warrington eliminate St Helens in golden drop goal thriller". www.theguardian.com.
34. "England's Tommy Makinson joins world elite by winning Golden Boot". The Guardian. 7 November 2018.
35. "Makinson a surprise winner of Golden Boot". NRL. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
36. "Rugby League World Cup: England 60-6 Samoa - Welsby, Young, Watkins, Farnworth score". BBC Sport.
37. "Rugby League World Cup: England 46-6 PNG - Tommy Makinson scores five tries". BBC Sport.

External links

• St Helens profile
• SL profile
• Saints Heritage Society profile
• England profile