I'd say Leeds' 1-5 stands reasonable comparison with most NRL teams. None of them are Inglis quality, but as a group I wouldn't say they're that far behind anyone. Certainly with a bit of experience they'd go OK.

The problem with Tomkins wasn't physical IMO, it was position. He's a halfback masquerading as a full back. It worked at Wigan (and probably will again) but in the NRL it was always a high risk ploy. He was really poor at two of the main duties at full back - defence (too many howlers) and running the ball back from kicks. It got to the point that after every kick he'd pass to a winger.

This year he lost confidence (as well as a touch of speed) and what had been a strong point in his game - his handling and chiming into the line - deteriorated. It wasn't helped by having a maverick halfback in Johnson hogging the ball and pushing him wider than at Wigan, but there were signs that he'd sort it out. When Johnson got injured he should have forced himself into plays in the position he was at Wigan. I think in his first season he would have. Instead he just sat out wide waiting to get the ball. He didn't impose himself in attack and with that went any semblance of being a star player - he was barely first grade standard.

Having said all of that, SL is lower intensity, and he will get some of his form back. Whether he's quite the player he was I doubt, but in any event I'd argue from day one that he should move to 6 or 7.

The absolute reason Tomkins was moved to fullback by Madge in the first place was because he could see Tomkins was a total liability in the defensive line.

Maguire was very clever with Tomkins. He realised, he couldn't defend, and couldn't run a game, so he switched him to full back. Wigan's attack was based around creating holes for Tomkins to run into. It was a clever ploy and it had Eddie & Stevo gushing. The fact is, he would be found out eventually. He was a disaster in the NRL, and his lack of speed will mean he has less impact on SL next year

I'm not sure how he will go? I can't see him been crap or average. He's a proud bloke and a genuine competitor. He has a lot to prove, probably to himself the most.

I'm sure he will be gutted with how the second year went.

If there is such a big gulf in class please explain how Mike Cooper - a pretty ordinary squad player at Warrington - has managed to hold down a place at St George? Or why NRL clubs sign players like Josh Hodgson?

I don't buy this "massive gulf in class" nonsense one tiny bit, nor is it borne out (if you take Saints out of the equation) by games between clubs from the two hemispheres in recent years or national teams for that matter.

"I acknowledge Sam is the worst signing in NRL history, but he's the best English full back in my squad and will play against France and in all 3 tests as full back"

Regards
Steve McBanana

I don't think it's a given that Tomkins will find life a doddle back in SL. Not because of his undoubted ability - he demonstrated that fully in his first stint - but because, maybe for the first time in his life, his confidence may have been well and truly rattled. And at full back, there really is no place to hide. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see him back to his best but there is a test to be faced, I'm sure.

Give over, it must be an unbelievable standard and light years ahead of SL if Sammy boy can't rip it up. Roll on next year when normal service is resumed and he screeches in for 30+ tries and MOS

The NRL is clearly superior. That doesn't mean individual players SL can't make it. Tomkins was an absolute stand out in SL in the way that genuine NRL stars have been - there was little reason to expect him to fail IMO. I can see him starring again for Wigan, and at full back - I just think he's a stand off. I also think he wouldn't be anything like a liability in defence nowadays - his one-on-one tackling is really not that bad for a smaller guy often trying to stop much bigger men at speed. I wouldn't have thought he'd be any worse than any other halfback in the line nowadays.

Problem is that Wigan have plenty halves, and no fullback. He will play fullback.

Hard to pick him in the halves for England when he didn't play half back due his club

Whatever he does when returns to Wigan it will be massively exaggerated by the media either way - good or bad.
Look forward to his first televised try being objectively assessed by the Sky team (once they've all changed their stained trousers).

The opposition will be soon be reeling him in like a prize winning salmon.

And once they've got Clarke off the field after he's tried to join in with the on-pitch celebrations.

In NRL he had no space, some of his tip on passing under pressure was brilliant last year. Over here behind a strong wigan team he will find plenty of room to start stepping again and will look a world beater on attack. He won't get put under same pressure in defence very often to rattle his confidence because wigan will be on top in most games. Nrl exposed his weaknesses, playing for wigan exposes his strengths.

That is also to assume Tomkins is still the player he was when he left. Teams over here were also starting to wise up to the wigan tactic, especially the top teams.Also, he will have to play the top sides more often now due to the Super 8s format, so less of the flat track bullying and 4 tries against the likes of a shot Bradford and London anymore.His defence and lack of it at times will have been noted so expect him to come under even more fire from SL sides from now too.Plenty of factors to be taken into account, but i suppose Sam has a lot to prove now too so we will see.Anyone expecting him to just roll back in to town and carry on where he left off may be in for a bit of a surprise though imo.