Hard to spot sarcasm in a single post.

Tomkins is improving as a fb, he's 12 months in learning a new position. He's already up there with a golden generation of top class fb's in slater, Dugan, Boyd, Stewart, hayne and possibly Bowen on his day.

jarred hayne is that the same bloke who no longer is a full a back? but in aussie terms a five eight? and how could you be sure that half the nrl wouldn't want him do you make the decision for them? i have read alot more aussie praise than what your trying to make out. micheal maguire was the one who put him in the slater cat who better to decide other bellamy? ow now i get it your just an aussie trying to wind up the english as you seen he is player who can scare the all mighty aussie team.

the only concern i have read from the genuine netural nrl supports is if he could keep the intensity up week in week out and the only thing i have to say to that is look at luke burgess he was no real loss to leeds but looks very good in the nrl.

the first time you have seen him do well at that stage because the english gave it a good crack for the first time since tomkins has been in the squad.

But yeah i do agree on time will tell.

But does Tomkins "scare" or make the Aussie team "anxious"
Really?
They rate him as a threat that's it.
He is not Benji Marshall and he does not, "scare" the Aussie team either.
Its like schoolboy talk.
"puts fear into the Aussies"

Australia and New Zealand teams do not look at it like that its more about some respect and shutting down the options of a player.
There are "gun" players scattered throughout the NRL that can turn a game or have an influence on a result.
Tomkins is no more or less than that, a player to be watched and contained.

I suggest you back and take a serious look at how Australia defended against Tomkins, Lawrence and Boyd in particular.

Jarryd Hayne! Are you serious?
What's he done at international level?

Good (sometimes) domestic player but apart from a flash down the wing in SoO he's shown next to nothing at rep level.

Please name me the other NRL fullbacks who've proved themselves to be world class by matching Tomkins performance against Australia.

Dally M player of the year so Hayne must be rubbish.
The equivalent last three "Man of Steel" awards have gone to foreigners unless Chase is counted as english now.
Hayne, played out of his Club position against England Scored a Try set up a Try and had a fair Try disallowed in one match?

Anthony Minichiello several times.
Darren Lockyer, he beat Great Britain on his own in 2004
Karmichael Hunt 4 tries from 11 games against the best teams not cannon fodder. (Wales, France and Wales)
Name the Australian Fullback that has played more than a couple of games that has not proved themselves?

tomkins should have won man of steal and the four nations are proving this chase only won it because hes a very good player in not so good castleford team. Now hayne is one player who doesn't keep up the intensity week in week out. boyd is seen to be aussies next best full back some how but tomkins is a better player than boyd. anothony minichiello? karmichael hunt? are we talking about now or 8 years ago? just because you use a different phrase to me its still the same thing as they would pay extra attention if they didn't see him a threat and its very clear to see tomkins ripped open the aussies more than once and hes only 80kg it cant be true.

Jonsey just get over the fact not every aussie rugby league player is better than an english rugby league player. just look at gaz ellis and burgess, next year you will see james graham show hes class in the nrl. Infact i am sure if you take thurston and cronk out of the aussie sqaud you wouldn't win but fortunate for australia you have them talents available.

I know its going to be a shock for the aussies but over the next few years you will see this england team get alot stronger and i know you will feel threatend i dont blame you but dont come on the internet trying to tell people it isn't true.

man of steal
As in stealing penalties?

I was replying to the clans post Mate.
I can only name the Aussie fullbacks from the last few years, Australia does not change their players every year.
Boyd is not second choice Fullback, he is a utility player on this tour, Hayne and Brett Stewart are out injured, Stewart is second choice.

You do realise that many Australian players were not available or injured for this tour, same as the Kiwis, its almost a second string side with the spine intact.

Burgess is injured more than he plays and Ellis is going the same way.
I want England to be strong it would be good for the game, no problems there.
I guess the summary is when you win something its time to crow.
When you win it more than once you can really crow.
When you are consistently the best then you have arrived.

How many years have we heard that the GB or England pack is the best in the World?
Never really seen it though, now two of those main players are past it, that leaves one good Prop and an ageing Ellis.
Are England scared to bring in New young forwards? three of the main boys were busted up that bad they hardly featured in the second half.
In the backs there is Tomkins that can do plenty in the SL less at Test level, who else?
Two are imported backs that have been developed in the NRL.
One is a Kiwi.
One is a forward that is ordinary, who has a grandparent born in the UK.
Hardly convincing is it?

Crow. Why?

Just win with humility and dignity instead of acting like an Australian.

What like the English fans do?
Every game they have come close they have not shut up.
You would think the one game that was won in Sydney 5 years ago was the second coming of Christ.
Maybe you should make your living and reside with people you are comfortable with rather than be a whinging Pommy that takes all the opportunities of a good life in Australia but continually complains about the people around him and forever goes on about what is better from England.
You must feel like you live a double life.
I bet you don't gob off about all that is great from England around your Aussie "mates"
How are the Coogee under 14s going again Mate?

Oh dear. Poor chap. Full of errors, supposition, presumption and an attempt to ridicule and belittle, which probably sounded funny in your own mind. Ho hum.

Anyway.....

Tomkins is very good in attack but could be better in defence. Wellens was good in defence but brought nothing to the attack at the highest level. Radlinski was somewhere in-between on both counts. I'd go for Sam T every time even if both the others were in their prime - he shows exactly why NRL sides want great attacking players at fullback.

I'd agree. I was thinking about this the other day and everyone always tells us its our HBs and centres that are the problem but we really have had a dirge of full backs in the last 25 years.

I think it's more than it has only been over the last few years that defences have been good enough to let teams play with more attacking full backs. Before that a full back who couldn't tackle would be exposed too often.