You assume wrong sunbeam, I think Sam's deficiencies in defence are overstated though.

Strange that you would take issue with a post saying ZH's defence is better then.

Are you sure the bias sits with everybody else? Ever considered you might just be being a bit precious about our Sam when you take issue with statements that you actually agree with yourself?

Fair enough I've been proven wrong, Tomkins is !

I didnt take issue with the point itself, but more the way you said Hardaker is HUGELY superior in defence and Tomkins Slightly better in attack. And that was my point about not expecting a Saints fan to be impartial.

JimLav's reply to you about confirmation bias is spot on, you probably don't even know you're doing it in your own mind, you'll just find ways to rationalise your particular biases. I'm probably guilty of it myself towards Saints players.

Samuel Tomkins was at about the mid-range among NRL full backs. Not brilliant but not bad either.

Next year when he retreats back to his natural level in Super League, against struggling clubs like Leigh, I expect him to shine more brightly.

Still injured apparently and not even travelling to the gold coast.....3 games this year.......he's not an nrl standard player and now we're paying his wages to recuperate and be a star v Leigh next year!

Tomkins' poorest area in the NRL is kick returns IMO. He's not great under the high ball, and he's small so one-on-one can get run over. He is though pretty good at organising the defence. Basically the more I see of him the less convinced I am that full back is is his best position. If he were to stay at the Warriors I'd move him to 6 sharpish.

Hardaker is excellent at kick returns and one-on-one-defence. His passing in general play are sub par though - as a general attacking player Tomkins is much superior IMO.

Given Matty Bowen's disaster under the high ball at the weekend, I'm surprised that Wigan fans are so quick to dismiss the importance of safety under the high ball when comparing the two players. I know who I want under the bomb for England at the end of the season.

Tomkins is a very important signing for Wigan though. With Charnley's drop in form and the outstanding Joe Burgess leaving, Wigan need to boost that attacking threat out wide which is their main weapon.

Could an early release be on the cards here?

Wickle Sammy is a perma-crock now.

How Saints doing on the injury front again?
Luke Walsh make Sam T look like the Terminator in terms of durability!

ssssshhhhhh, cant mention Saints and injuries in the same post!!!

Injuries don't really affect us anymore, as you saw on Friday. If we got all our players back we'd probably get promoted into the NRL play offs as the SL ones would be too easy.

Impossible. It'll clash with the Union World Cup, which your U-19s have been invited to join at the quarter final stage.

For a 1st round exit. Saints history versus recent NRL teams doesn't bode too well. I'd decline the invitation if I was Saints.