Definitely in Tomkins case. Another who signed for the wrong team. He added a lot more vision to his game over there, there wasnt another full back who had the speed of hand with some of the quick tip ons he did getting smashed in the process. Just because he hadn't the size to run like the inglis's of this world doesnt mean he was a failure. He added structure to a joke of a side who fling the ball about willy nilly. I'm not a Wigan fan and its Wigan hating fans who keep spouting this nonsense

What makes me laugh is the people who say Tomkins was a dud are never really able to back it up. I get it, he's a player most people outside of Wigan fans want to dislike but that doesn't make him a dud. I don't know the exact figures but I seem to recall he was up there for assists and a few other elements in his first year. The second year he was clearly playing busted. The criticism of him seems to be picked up from the Aussies/Kiwis themselves who love nothing more than see a pom "fail" and will shout it from the rooftops to massage their own ego.

Mossop was a flop but he hardly went over there with a glowing rep so that's not exactly weird. Same with Sarginson. Sometimes it makes the best of you - Greenwood and Wardle seem to be going alright

I'd argue Burgess was not a flop. He was 3rd or 4th choice winger for the Roosters and barely got any game time. He did well for South's attacking wise and struggled defensively, like every British back I've ever seen play in the NRL, not something that can only be levelled at him.

Agreed! Other fans hatred of Tomkins/Wigan are blurring what a good job he actually did. Obviously not watched what he was doing

Gareth Ellis says hello.

lmao thats stretching it a bit.....

Well Josh Hodgson seems to be making a good fist of it. Does that mean I have the right to criticise Wigan's NRL duds?

Anyone can criticize anyone. I don't agree with this idea that because your team has had less players go to the NRL you can't comment - however, you have to be able to back up why they were duds, surely?

Why is that stretching it? He's a Wakefield academy product, plus he was far more successful over there than any Wigan players have been in recent years.

Just for balance, despite his own views on how he went, Hardaker was a dud last year. It would be really interesting to see how the 2015 or 2017 version of Hardaker would go in the NRL, but last year he went over after half a season of not bothering for Leeds and was unsurprisingly poor at the Panthers - especially physically.

IMO there are no SL outside backs who are "NRL ready". There are a few who I'm sure could make it if they stuck at it - Burgess is one, Manfredi looks big enough, Ryan Hall (a few years ago), Watkins McGillvray etc. They all need to learn to defend and attacking plays, but the physical side is something that seems to be ignored.

I think forwards generally adapt better, partly because their role is simpler, but also because the best forwards clearly enjoy the tough stuff. Going to a physically harder competition is challenge they relish - unlike most outside backs....