Tommy Makinson, a winger for St Helens, has confirmed that he will be leaving the team at the end of the 2024 campaign in a heartfelt message to the club’s supporters.
With his contract expiring at the end of the 2024 season, Makinson has long been linked to reports that he would be leaving for the Catalans Dragons. The winger has confirmed his departure, even though he hasn’t disclosed where he is going.
The club has released a heartfelt ten-minute video, in which Makinson addresses the Red Vee faithful, explaining his choice and remembering his fourteen years of membership.
Since making his Super League debut in 2011, the 32-year-old has played in nearly 300 games, made 326 appearances overall while wearing the St Helens jersey, and scored 199 tries.
After being a member of one of the most dominant teams in Super League history, he has pledged to try and leave the supporters with one more trophy to celebrate. He will be aiming to reach 200 by the end of his time with the team.
St Helens legend confirms his exit
During his ten-minute speech to the fans, which you can watch here, Makinson was clearly moved and described his departure as “the hardest decision” he had ever had to make.
“It’s been the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make,” he remarked, after spending so much time playing here and making so many unforgettable experiences. This is the best club ever—I’ve never had better treatment from a club.”
In addition, he has been given one last chance to add another Grand Final trophy to his amazing collection of achievements from his time at St Helens, which includes five Super League titles, a World Club Challenge, a Challenge Cup, and four League Leaders’ Shields.
“Like I’ve always done, I want to finish on the best possible terms. I’ll give it everything I’ve got, and I want to sign off with a Grand Final win. Not selfishly, but rather because we deserve it, I want to win another Grand Final with this group,” Makinson stated.
“I think we are a great group, one that holds each other accountable, we take pride in working harder than the others, and we have amazing staff and behind-the-scenes people coaching us,” the group member said.
“The relationships I’ve formed with the residents of the town and the staff are beyond anything I could have imagined when I was a 14 or 15-year-old kid showing up for training at Knowsley Road. Time has flown by, and now I’m sitting here at thirty or so, and we’ve accomplished so much together. Thank you very much; I am really appreciative of all of you.
