There are a whole host of fullbacks that would be Fullback for Australia before Barba - Tedesco, Boyd, Trbojevic,probably even play Inglis at 1 before Barba.

The ill feeling that still lingers towards Tomkins from his displays between 2009-2013 means very few fans give rational views on his ability. He was absolutely sensational in those seasons, every bit as good as what Barba has produced for Saints but he did it over 5 seasons and not just a handful of games. His time in the NRL is also judged a lot of the time through the eyes of people who wanted to see him fail. He had one good season in the NRL (where he finished with as many trys and assists as both Billy Slater and Greg Inglis) and one ruined by injury.

Fast forward to his second spell in superleague and it’s been ruined by injury also up until this season. He’s had a full pre season for the first time in donkeys years and whilst he’s not the player he was in 2009-2013, he is still an exceptional talent who oozes class. He really is playing fantastically well for us so far this year. He’s not got the pace of his spell pre NRL but his ball skills and rugby brain certainly haven’t faded. He must be a dream to play on the outside of.

Is he better then Barba? No probably not but has he had a better career? I’d say he’ll sit down in twenty years and be happier with his lot then Barba will be.

You mean Trbojevic the prop forward???

"Jake Trbojevic (born 18 February 1994) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He plays at prop and lock."

Credit - Wikipedia

yeah I doubt it

Quote: Trinity18 "yeah I doubt it'" Might I recommend the player profiles on the Manly website or even wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Trbojevic Good enough to play twice for Australia last year.

Quote: Trinity18 "yeah I doubt it'" Might I recommend the player profiles on the Manly website or even wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Trbojevic Good enough to play twice for Australia last year.

When both in there prime barba was better but tomkins was still a very good player. Shame the injuries have really hurt him.

Seen him play.

With regard to wikipedia, at the age of 62 I'd sort of worked that out myself.

I'd take a young Tompkins over this years Barba. Both exceptional talents but Tompkins was exceptional for years. Tompkins this year is good from what I've seen but not a shadow of his pre NRL days. He was the one talent in the sport that was recognisable nationwide other than Burgess. Such a shame that he left when he did.

Tomkins’ displays this year are showing that he is still a class player, he may have lost a little pace but has compensated with increased creativity. I’d say Barba is the better player but not by as much as some are taking pleasure in claiming.

That said I’d still take Tomkins over Barba in my team on the grounds that I expect Barba to be back off to Australia sooner rather than later where as I’d hope for at least 3 more good seasons from Tomkins. Just for the record even though he plays for the old enemy I’d like Barba to stay in SL as the competition is better with players of his ilk.

Barba for me, purely based on his team play. Tomkins lacks this

If we are comparing now as Superleague Players then Barba has stats that Tomkins really struggles with as an overall impact game.

Barba wins for trys 8 v 1, tackle busts 45 v 19, clean breaks 7 v 2. Tomkins is level on try assists 7 v 7 and errors are even also. Surprisingly Tomkins is well down on metres with Barba double what Tomkins is achieving 600 metres Barba Tomkins 300 metres, obviously stats don't mean everything but the difference in ratios are hard to ignore.

Right now probably Barba. In 6 months time probably Tomkins (when Barba ditches Saints to go back to the NRL).