I made multiple posts as it was part of a conversation. I wasn't going completely over the top in my praise of him at all, I'm not really sure how you've gathered that other than perhaps expecting me to say 'He's awful, never been a good player, never will be and Hardaker is literally the best fullback in the history of the game'. There's plenty I could have said to heap praise on him but I haven't.

I was making a point about him not being as bad in NRL as others have suggested and saying he, alongside Hardaker, should still be in the England side. Excuse me for thinking people could have an even handed conversation about two good English players and excuse Wigan fans for admiring one of their great players.

Incidentally if all I am good for is assessing the attractiveness of a player then Hardaker does come in above Tomkins based on this seasons beard form.

I think its fair to say that Wigan, as things stand, will be the team to beat next year. It's almost certain they will also go back to the old style of most things catered for, and going through Sam Tomkins and if he isn't that same player of a couple of years ago and teams are able to shut it down, it could create problems for Wigan as it is very one dimensional. I suppose we will get an idea in this coming series.

Tomkins is a great player....no doubt but i will be mightily relieved to see the back of Bowen who seems to save his absolute best games for us.

Leeds have, on occasions, got some mileage out of Tomkins failings at full back but Bowen seemed to destroy us every time we played, inc last Saturday when he was one of the better players on the pitch.

I'm also not quite ready to crown Wigan. Burgess will be a loss and I've heard rumours that O'Loughlin may hang up his boots due to the injuries.

If that's true about O'Loughlin, then why pick him over Cuthbertson for England? Shows McBanana up to be exactly what he is. A Useless Rugby League Coach.

Wigan are on two GF defeats. As saints can testify, that can become a habit.

Man for man there is no way Wigan should be favourites. Their scrum half is garbage, they are weak in the centres, their props are mediocre, hooker one-dimensional, loose forward on borrowed time. How they achieve so much has to be a credit to Wane.