When we beat Aus/NZ in a test or two & people are saying it woz Sam wot won it, then I will believe the hype. He would grace any team in SL, but so would a number of players, it doesn't make them the best player of their generation.

That's quite a journey for you top watch some Rugby League Jim. My sister lives in Hamilton and when the Warriors signed Sam I was in touch trying to get some sense of whether it was big news. Her husband is a big Union fan and they'd never heard of him!

I'm interested in your comments because of course, it is more than possible that I am blind to Sam's deficiencies. Since I watched him on debut score five tries I have seen him in practically every Wigan game he's played. He is an outstanding attacking talent who was originally a scrum half. He played there for the first couple of years until Michael Maguire pushed him to full back. Now, I always felt that full back exposed him somewhat, but it gave him the space to rip teams apart which he often did. He has a ridiculous record of tries and assists from full back.

I have watched most of the NZW games on Premier Sports, because I still thought of him as ours. I must admit, I didn't think that his frailties were exposed so much. I actually thought that he did quite well under the high ball and I don't think he has done too badly in defence. Your commentator Andrew Voss on Sky is always very supportive of Sam. He seems objective in his comments.

Where his problem lieis can be summed up in two words. Shaun Johnson. Now, I'm not attaching any blame to SJ, far from it. But - there is only room for one superstar in most teams, and Sam isn't it. I've lost count of the number times when it goes to the final play and Sam has been used as a dummy runner or a decoy for SJ to do his thing. And on the other side only when Thomas Leuluai has been playing has Sam got anything like a decent pass.

NZW haven't got the best out of Sam. That said, clearly the standard is much higher than Super League. Overall, I think he's done well, though in his heart of hearts I think Sam will be disappointed. I think a return to the halves will be on the cards in a year or so. He has a great competitive spirit and great ball handling skills and is a leader. I'm more than glad he's coming home. Couldn't be happier.

Good luck to the Warriors for the rest of the season. Would love to see Sam with a GF ring!

PS any chance we could have Thomas back as well?!!

Oh no! Hitting me where it hurts, my post count

I agree that he hasn't been a good investment for the Warriors, but that's purely because of him coming home early and his injuries this year, not because he isn't good enough.

You've highlighted his errors and missed tackles, let's compare him to some of the top fullbacks over there:

Billy Slater - Missed tackles(2icon_cool.gif Errors(33)
Greg Inglis - Missed tackles(11) Errors(12)
Jarryd Hayne - Missed Tackles(26) Errors(2icon_cool.gif
Matt Moylan - Missed Tackles(26) Errors(32)
Anthony Minichiello - Missed tackles(31) Errors(37)
Michael Morgan - Missed tackles(1icon_cool.gif Errors(30)
Brett Stewart - Missed tackles(20) Errors(23)

It's easy to pick out Tomkins' error count individually to
make him look a bad player, but compare him to other top fullbacks in the NRL and he doesn't look out of place at all. Not bad considering it was his first year there when all of the above players (bar Matt Moylan) are experienced NRL fullbacks.

indeed.....about $10,000 a year in flights etc. Sooner we get NZII the better......
i agree about SJ limiting sams chances to shine, but i think his defensive failings have been further highlighted in his time here.

Rookies and solid pro's? Based on that I don't believe you've watch an NRL game in your life. His stats from last season, his first in a much tougher league, compare very well against some of the best fullbacks the game has seen.

Yeah sorry I shouldn't have had a go, I was just skeptical based on your skewed opinion of his ability, maybe a bit of bitterness that he's leaving early? I don't know but I certainly can't respect your assertion that he's "average".

He has been the epitome of average in the NRL. An out of form low on confidence Ben Barba running through him like he was Mal Maninga is hard to look past.

Loose use of the term "facts", I should have pointed out in my last reply that he had in fact missed 31 tackles not 36. Good summation of his skills too, an attack minded player is good in attack and not quite as good in defence, ground breaking stuff!

You know deep down that he is a great player, but his connection with Wigan means he'll never get the credit he deserves off most fans.

Oh and I've apologised to Pooley, I shouldn't have had a pop at him.

I've been watching the Aussie rugby league since about 88 when Barkers released the weekly rounds on Video to rent.

I've lived here in Aus over 4 years.

The view of Tomkins in Aus is that he is $hit and massively overrated. One of the biggest flops to come over. I'm not saying that, I'm saying he has been very average. It's moments like I highlighted in my other post (that you try to deflect twisting my observation) that stand out for people. Tomkins gaffs reel in the NRL is pretty long and distinguished. He has done some good things but I can tell you for a fact the Aussies think he is simply $hit!

I don't remember that at all.

I don't watch much NRL so cannot comment on Tomkins performances over there but to pay £700k then agree to sell for £200k after 25ish? games is definitely a bad business deal for NZ.

Because it did not happen.

I've never been a member of the Sam Tomkins is God brigade. He looked good in a good Wigan team, but by the end of his time there the other SL coaches had by and large worked him out and he wasn't nearly as effective. This carried on in the NRL, where they'd watched the videos (or should that be DVDs?) and saw his deficiencies before he arrived - I've never been quite sure why the Warriors went for him in the first place. I can't help thinking that the money Wigan are shelling out for him would have been better spent on two or three younger local players with better long term prospects.