Well you could, but the problem there is that the player he "gouged" went to the RFL to defend Hock. If you saw the incident it wasn't clear it was intentional.

But don't let that stop you demonising Hock.

I tell you what.

The VT really is a laughable place to be when a Wigan related topic is posted.

Reasonable posters turn into holier than now drama queens.

Why do we stir such a reaction?

it is either A)
So he wants more protection for Sam Tomkins over and above everyone else which is laughable,

Or B)he thinks that Precious Sammy gets less protection than everyone else, which according to your logic, he, nor you, could comment on without seeing every other game everyone else played in because it is a relative measure.

You clearly don't think it's option B, so we are left with the conclusion, you, along with wane, laughably think Precious Sammy needs special protection over and above everyone else.

Hock was charged with and found guilty of gouging, he is, by any definition a gouger

Yep option A sounds good. Got to do what we can to keep the best player in Super League...

If he is the best RL player in SL he doesn't need special protection, if he is too soft to play like everyone else, he wouldn't be any loss

I don't think he is asking for special treatment. Just fair treatment, there are people in this thread saying that it's right he should be targeted more due to the threat. Targeted for fair tackles, yes. For foul play, no. Unfortunately the more recent tactic that has been played against Wigan seems to be more on the side of foul play than fair play.

Quotes like this on the Wigan board highlight some fans views

or the ever anti-Wigan "Saddo"



or




So it's OK to commit foul play on Tomkins and Wigan are thugs.... Except if people like Saddo looked at Wigan's games, there are very few if any Standing Leg tackles (when was the last disciplinary for this?). Judder is making a connection to Wane being somewhere in the Wigan payroll to a tackle that probably wouldn't have caused much damage but for Long's own player running into the back of him at the same time as Newton make contact and then that there's some kind of behaviour link between Wane -> Newton -> Tomkins OK to target?

I'm surprised at the level of anti-Tomkins/Wigan drivel spouted as a result of this. If any coach is making this kind of comment just maybe it's worth a little look rather than rabid drivel?

Burrow get's caught a fair few high, he is small and fast so wrong foots players often. Refs haven't been slow to blow the whistle and I think that he suffer from foul (mostly accidental) play and should be protected. Roby I could argue falls in a similar small stature (but not as small), but doesn't step as much or have the same turn of pace, oddly he doesn't seem to get the same volume of penalties against him.

Sam at 5ft 11in, isn't small. However he seems to get at least 2 or 3 high tackles a game, and yet players like Finch who probably get tackled more don't get the same quantity of high tackles relative to carries. Do other full backs have the same foul to carry ratio I wonder? What the average and does Sam stand out as an exception, if so then just maybe Wane as a point.

I would hazard a guess that Wane's comments were made with the Sa tackle in mind. Basically it was a dangerous tackle that could have caused serious injury, was quite clearly high. He was let off because although Sa hit him high he caught him around the shoulder first. The RFL let players off for any high tackle offence that hits the shoulder first yet it's incredibly easy to target a player and get in a deliberate high shot that won't get further action taken simply by making sure you get them around the shoulder before moving your arm into their face.

I assume the fact that Sa's tackle was dangerous but received no further punishment is what has annoyed Wane and led to what he's said in the interview.

Ref's have been embarrassing in their refereeing of high shots on burrow, I have seen Burrow take two or three head shots in a game which had it been on any other player on the field would have seen a red, Burrow's skills aren't any excuse for head high shots. He has suffered numerous concussions but Burrow picks himself up dusts himself off and carries on with not a word.

If Tomkins can learn a lesson from nim in that respect he will be better for it, if he starts looking for excuses he is gone away.

I'f someone told Burrow he needed special protection it would likely be them looking for the ref to help them out, ask Lauaki and Thackray, Burrow takes responsibility for himself, he doesn't take a backward step and doesn't look for protection from anyone

Maybe he is just braver than Tomkins, it would be a sad day if that quality was removed from the game.


I'd also think Wigan are on pretty dodgy ground complaining at people wanting to see Tomkins hurt

As far as I understand its Wane who's asking for the protection for Tomkins. I don't see any request from Sam to be treated differently. I'm quite sure he's capable of looking after himself. If not we could see the following scenario: Visitors dressing room - referee enters and instructs said visitors to "lay off Sam, but you can knock sh*t out of the others".

You couldn't make it up (unless your name's Wane).

I don't see Sam making any complaint. He has no need to learn lessons from anyone and anyone questioning his bravery is a fool.

Almost every single player who gets hold of Sam tries to smash/hurt him. He's THE danger player and probably an annoying sod to face and if you can quieten him you're doing your team a favour. He takes probably more hits and niggle because of this. I've seen him take shot after shot and lots of extra 'treatment' and I've yet to see him complain or take a backward step.

ps. Burrow's height is the reason for so many high shots, not his skill.

Tomkins hasn't said anything so what are you going on about? It's Shaun Wane who made the comments, not Tomkins.

And as for your suggestion as to what Tomkins should do after receiving a high shot, he already does. Like after the one from Ablett.

That post is quite representative of the fairly hilarious hyperbole surrounding Tomkins.

P.s poor tackle technique, fatigue and laziness are why Burrow takes so many headshots.