So the player who "wasn't ready" still managed to get the better of the best team in the world once he got hold of the ball. Define "ready". Would that be like McGuire, Sinfield, Peacock, Hall and Smith were "ready" in the first half (or indeed the whole game in McGuire's case). Stop being a one-eyed idiot. Anyone could see Tomkins was the one who sparked us to life in the 2nd half. Maybe Smith should have played him against France instead of bringing him in cold for such a big game. As for his step, it seems to be good enough to take him past the Aussie defence and every defence in Superleague! Go figure!

tomkins wasn't the one who sparked us into life, that was down to sinfield running and organizing of the forwards from dummy half.

as for tomkins himself, i still find it funny that so many fans (granted mainly wigan fans) seem to think he's some kind of god. lets not forget the fact that he's played half a year of super league (which its taken him till he's 21 to do) and that of his two big games to date (saints in the play offs & aus this weekend) he's been quiet, if not none existent, for large parts of the game.

It kinda gets missed that the new panto villan mcguire was scoring 30 trys a season when he was tomkins age and how ironic is it that the sinfield haters have lost their voice! It seems to me you are one game away from been slaughtered by player hater fans but also one game away from shutting the fickle bast*rds up.

In fairness he's been held back by Noble. I suspect other coaches would've thrown him in the deep end a lot earlier.

Bo!!ocks. It was the likes of Crabtree, Burgess and Ellis who sparked us into life in the 2nd half. The forwards decided to turn up, thats what sparked us into life.

Hes played half a season and already looks as good, if not better than that support player you call a stand off.

Tomkins can pass to his right, can tackle, can break a tackle, doesnt run sideways, is up for a bit of biff, can kick and can organise. Traits your support player of a stand off, doesnt have.

But yeah, hark on about all his grand final medals. Doesnt mean jack when we are discussing individual skills.

Correct. Which is why Tomkins had more room to play as did Sinfield.
Your backs can only play if the pack is on top.

Tomkins is a very good young player no doubt, and i really rate the lad. McGuire is also a very good player. They are 2 different types of half backs, i personally think they compliment each other pretty well as Mcguire can do things better than Tomkins can.. he's faster, scores more tries, superb support player, has a great side step. To say Mcguire can't kick and can't organise can't tackle is ridiculous though...

Ah the village idiot is back!!
You do know Mcguire was doing what Tompkins is doing now 5yrs ago don't you???????
I'm not gonna drag it into a Mcguire v Tompkins thing though because i like Tompkins and reckon he could be a great player.
What i will point out is Mcguire has proved season after season how good he is at 6 and not just this support player bollox you keep chelping about!!

Can Tompkins really do all that? He's not shown much of a passing game, or kicking game, or organisational skills to date. He's being way over hyped at this stage. He's got an awesome side step but he's still got a lot to learn and God knows how he will develop. McGuire was better at 20 than Tompkins is at the same stage of his career.

Sorry, who's the "one eyed idiot" ?

I've repeatedly said Tomkins was excellent in the 2nd half.

The point I am making is that blaming Sinfield and McGuire for Tomkins anonymous 1st half is just silly.

I don't think that makes me the one eyed idiot.

Hi Eric, just out of interest who do you rate from the leeds team? and how did they manage to win the last three GF's?

Genuine question.

They only managed to win the last three GF's because of how bottle-less and s[ihit[/ie the opposition was.

If Tomkins and Eastmond play the halves on saturday and we fail to win which Leeds player gets the blame?