The thing I like about rugby league is the ability of all supporters to talk sensibly to each other face-to-face on the terracing (I discount the bull that gets typed on internet forums, thats not reflected in real life at all) and the majority of RL supporters that I have spoken to face-to-face over many years would definitely disagree with Mr Peacocks priorities - their unwillingness to attend international fixtures only proves the point further.

On the other hand I'd expect Mr Peacock to say exactly what he has said, he has a vested interest in such mock-up events as "England vs Exiles" (lets not beat about the bush, we couldn't afford to transport the real thing over from Australia/New Zealand nor would it make any money if we did), Mr Peacock and everyone else selected had a nice little earner from last night and good for them, but please don't think that anyone else gives a fook.

Personally, I think JP should be concentrating more on his poor performance that taking part in silly interviews. Last night looked like something straight out of the rhinos selections. Just because you have been a good player at a level doesn't mean you will always be. The reliance on OAP's Morley and Peacock is embarrasing.

All that said, i don't for one microsecond believe that Peacock was aiming that answer ar Rhinos fans, but instead England fans in general. And lets not forget the highly hypocritical wigan supporters who have big history on this sort of thing. Had it been Graham getting the boos last night, you can rest assured they would have all been part of it. But because it'a one of theirs its a different story.

Personally was not there last night, but had i been I would probably have boo'd myself. Not with the rest of them but on my own. Thats because I find that said player an embarresment to the game, a cheat of the highest order, and a pish poor role model for the youngsters. That would have been the sam no matter what jersey he had on, including a rhinos one.

I was one of those in the SouthStand for this game and can confirm that it was populated by a cross section of SL club fans.The irony part of this responce first.....
SouthStand 'fan fave' James Graham did to the best of MY hearing NOT get grief(for a change) and I would like to highlight his post match professionallism in the way he deliberately applauded the SouthStand based fans.If any one had a reason to ignore them it was him.
However Sam Tompkins did get booed throughout the match...why?For me the reason was best summarised by an earlier post by OLDLADYRHINO,which seems to have been conveniently ignored by WRL fans on here who seem able to bring objectivity to ALL other players except their own.
I too believe ST has incredible talent but just doesnt use enough ethics in how he 'plays the game' and ALL other SL clubs have many fans who find those contradictions unacceptable and thus he has almost become the SL pantomine villain (guaranteed to be booed).Clearly all these fans are wrong of course.Those are reasons I dont respect him,I may admire his skills but I couldnt respect him,that requires an inclusion of his personal attributes and thus he fails big style.
I often wonder if HE will ever think about being booed and reflect or will he just figure you cannt please folk.Maybe he couldnt ever change his style.
Likewise some fans dont bring balanced judgements to matches at the best of times and act accordingley.Next year unless the fixture was at the DW,the responce will still occur,to a greater or lesser degree we cannt predict.
LOL.will the WRL fans then 'pop' on that forum?
Personally I ddint boo.....too juvenile.......

Last two posts are spot on.

Indeed.

Aren't these also the sorts of players who trott out the tired old line about when they go to Rugby Union about the game 'being a business these days' and 'it is a short career' etc.

I am a Rhinos supporter and it gave me no pleasure to hear the boos directed at Sam Tomkins. If he were playing for Wigan against Leeds, I may have the booing mindset...............but only to hide my frustration at his skill in scoring or ceating a try. Lets face it; it is childish. However, it is no different to Lancashire based supporters booing Danny McGuire when he played for England a while ago.

Rugby League is very parochial in outlook and despite this match featuring England, it also featured a team containing many favourites from Super League. I am sure this left fans with divided loyalties and some who supported the Exiles as much as England.

It would be interesting to see if this happened if it were a full international against Australia or New Zealand. In my view, Sam would be supported unconditionally by the fans. He is a player of rare talent with a must win approach and I wish we had his like at Leeds these days.

Edited for accuracy Billyrhino

I personally think it should be the other way round, and i think generally this is a bit of an inappropriate comment from JP. I understand his frustrations of the booing directed at the Tomkins brothers, but i think as the captain, instead of commenting on the England fans, he should be concentrating on his and his teams performance in my opinion.

First of all, i'm a Leeds fan, secondly, I'm a Rugby League fan. I believe a majority of the fans last night were "Rugby league fans" who went to the match to see a good game of Rugby, maybe some of them were hoping for an England win.....but were any of these fans as nervous about England winning as they are about their club winning - I doubt it. No matter how much Eddie and Stevo try to dress it up - the internationals are not what they are in other sports.

Back to my point - I reckon a lot of fans were neutrals last night, wanting to see a game worthy of the price!!

People don't like cheats, people don't like arrogance, people don't like conning refs - Therefore, some people will not like Sam Tomkins. This is the reason for his boo's. Maybe, this will allow him to assess his performance and decide how he wants to be remembered by all rugbly league fans, a good player, or an arrogant cheat - he is still young enough to decide.

Before anyone assumes this is jealousy, I admire the following players from other clubs for their contribution to Rugby League, Long, Farrell, Briers, Wellens. All of which are bad losers, all of which I loved to jeer.....all of which don't/didn't blatently cheat (Briers has now learnt the offside rule is 10 meters not 7)!

Sam Tomkins did get one rousing cheer , though that was when he was dumped on his head in a tackle.

I couldn't give a rats backside if Tomkins is a "arrogant cheat" he had an England shirt on last night and thats that.

I think part of the matter is that it was not a big game.

Had it been a 4 Nations final against Aus at Elland Road I doubt there would have been any boos.

You're assuming everyone holds the international set up in the same regard as you do.