my two pennies worth is that sam has more game changing potential than marshall, inglis and lockyer now... before the last two games i said he was the 3rd best full back in the world behind slater and stewart now he is the 2nd best as stewart is very good poacher. i don't think you can just say because he hasn't played for ten years he cant be counted as one of the best he is the 2nd most exciting player to watch in the world. Saying sam tomkins is one of the best in the world isn't having a dig at the likes of roby, graham, peacock and westwood they are all very very very good players in their positon but as far as xfactor none of them will step 4 players and go the full length.

I am very proud of this england squad and that includes all the players outside of the the wigan club

Interesting that you include Reed. He has played well but I wouldnt say he has been a stand out in the way the other guys you mention have. Those you mention however along with Briscoe and Widdop have all shown they are easily good enough at this level and yet are their careers have barely begun.

Think that Sam is the sort of player who when he gets the ball does give you a lift,,a superb talent and i know that Wigan have given him a superb contract with clauses stating that he does not talk to any NRL or Union Teams for 3 years,,but we all know what contracts are worth in this day and age....

I've been calling him the best player in the world for a few months now. His performances in the 4 Nations are backing me up I think.

Im not criticising Tomkins at all, I'm criticising peoples reaction to him. Tomkins plays in a position where if he does well, it looks spectacular. But does that make him better than a player like Graham who, week in, week out makes masses of yards, masses of tackles and does his, less spectacular job, fantastically? Backs will always be looked at as having the 'x factor' but is Halls finishes over the past couple of games better than Grahams yardage? I guess what I am saying is to compare a player like Tomkins to a player like Graham is like comparing Brian Lara to Shane Warne.

And i think you have to do it for a long time to get listed amongst the very best, some players can have an outstanding couple of years but have a pretty average career. Clinton Toopi was probably among the top 2 or 3 centres in the world for a couple of years but over the course of his career he really wasnt of that level.

People are right about Tomkins he's a right pain in the , deserves a slap, cheat, nasty piece of work.

On another note his shirt from Saturday is on Ebay so a mate of his can represent BARLA, they have to pay for themselves, in Dubia.

What a prick!!!

I've been critical of Tomkins' attitude and demeanour in the past, but he's been outstanding in this tournament.

I say again - he looks a significantly better player when he cuts out the silly stuff and just plays.

Isn't it amazing what a couple of good performances can do, both on a Tomkins level and an England/SL level?

Sam Tomkins is a genuinely nice lad with his feet firmly on the ground, who is willing to help his mates - no matter what they do now or play for.
The time he takes signing autographs for kids and talking with them, the fact he watches his mate Thornley at Leigh when he can and this gesture to support an old mates fundraising so he can go on the BARLA tour are synonymous of this lads character - well done Sam.
What some prix on here fail to grasp is this game of ours has been lacking a high profile world class player since Hanley, the player kids pretend to be when throwing a ball around in the street or playground - Sam is that man, and we should use him as the face of our sport in the same way Beckham was used.
All this from a Leyther with a born hatred for all things Humble!!

Well said. I've made that exact point over on the Hull board. I think people do overstate his contribution compared to those of his colleagues. Our forwards won the game for us on Saturday, and we'd still have won without Tomkins. That's not to belittle his efforts - he had an excellent game - but without the efforts of Graham, Westwood, Roby and a few others, Tomkins' input would have been in vain.

I remember saying that all fans would change their minds about him when he puts in a couple of good performances for England. It is great when he is playing for your team, I can imagine it isn't so nice seeing him against you.

He is a world-class player.

you for real ? Think you need to have a reality check ? I take it your not a Wigan fan then ?

Anyone who wants to have a go at Sam Tomkins will have to get through me from now on.

I've even got an 'I love Sam' t-shirt ready for the weekend.

I think his post is "tongue in cheek" so to speak