Talented kid, hopefully sees the errors of his ways and joins his boyhood club were he used to watch his hero Alfie Langer.

This 'big hit' stuff is nonsense. What would - and has in the past and will again - neutralise his effectivenss is a well-disciplined defence keeping their shape. Wigan pulled Leeds' defence apart because Leeds were completely ill-disciplined and simply not up for it (check out Wigan's first try for a classic example of soft defence).

If Tomkins were in the NRL he'd have to pick his moments a lot more carefully. Against Australia last year he had his moments, but struggled (along with the rest of the team) when Australia stepped up a gear. That's probably the only thing that would stop him being a star in the NRL from game 1 - the ability to be patient and yet alert for the rarer opportunities he'd get.

In any event he's a super talent and whether in SL or NRL, I hope he stays in RL.

Correct. Even at the low amateur level I played, I can't think of a single player ( one who stuck around for a few years I mean ) who hid away after taking a big hit. For anyone with the right attitude for Rugby, a bit hit gets you going, not the other way around. Obviously, if you're actually injured by a tackle, that's going to slow you down, but that can happen in any tackle, big or small.

I can't imagine that any player who's come through the amateur ranks ( where very dirty, much bigger and older players get up to all sorts ) and has then proved good enough to take on far superior athletes at pro level, would ever find a big hit 'intimidating' such as to make them hide away.

The way Australia stopped him was restriciting where and when he got the ball imo. They had England pinned back and he never really got many good starting points with ball in hand imo. Trouble is in SL the rest of our team build a good platform for him to perform and there isnt many if any teams at the moment who will pin us back for a large period of the game like Aus did to England.

Australia stopped Sam Tomkins? Big deal. The best team in the world should be able to stop the best players and they often do.

He hasn't shone against Australia, but has shown the odd glimpse against them which you would expect from such a quality player.

I wouldn't say that this proves that Sam isn't world class though. Put Billy Slater in that England team against Australia and he wouldn't shine either IMO. In attack, a dominating pack and well executed moves are what allow the full back to receive the ball in space with a defensive line that isn't set in front of them.

There are obviously times when players create something from nothing but that's a rare occurrence against top class opposition. As a Wigan fan he's a joy to watch week in week out and often the loudest cheers from opposition fans are when he gets tackled which shows just how feared he is.

I actually hope he tests himself in the NRL at some point (not for a good few years) because I truly believe he'd be a success over there.

According to Forums like this one England/GB has had by far the best pack for the last decade.
Why is it Ellis, Burgess, Morley, Peacock, Graham, Roby, Wilkins, and Sinfield can not lay a platform?

IMO our starting pack can match them and sometimes even get on top. Having to bring average players off the bench has always been our main problem. Usually going into the last 20 our pack looks out on its feet.

When we do get in a good position, the lack of moves/organisation/structure is shocking and this is the main reason Tomkins will never look "world class" against the Aussies.

Because the aussie pack is still better despite this supposed best pack

lets be honest... Sam Tomkins is the best player is super league by a country mile.... he is an exceptional talent.

he tears defences up like no player i have ever seen.... he speed, agility and rugby brain is almost unrivalled.

for all the tiresome NRL loving trolls on here, he would walk into your league and be worshipped.

The NRL doesn't currently have a player of sams style.... i bet they wish they did though.

makes me laugh people like jonesy saying 'just kick that ball up into the air at him'.... yea you know loads about rugby league you mate'.

if you think he has a weakness in his game you're p*ssing up the wrong tree.

there is no better ball running rugby league player than Sam Tomkins... and as a warrington fan that's a horrible thing to have to say.

unfortunaley the NRL cant afford him, as he is already the highest paid player in RL.... we will loose this talent to rugby union one day.... and that will be a terrible day for rugby league.

*Cough* Shaun Johnson *Cough*

If Sam Tomkins has anything about him, this will be his last season. It's pretty farcical that he signed his last contract with Wigan, what on earth was he thinking. He should be playing NRL and needs to push a move there as quickly and as forcefully as he can. Staying in Super League and playing about 4 or 5 tough games a season and playing against amateurish players every week is no challenge for him. It's like a prizefighter staying an amateur and beating up on no hopers rather than taking on the big boys in the world title fights.

Isn't there cap going up by quite a huge ammount. whether any of the teams would take the risk on a huge salary is anouther question.

I still recall people going way OTT about that Featherstone match and making Fev to be something amazing - seems that trend hasn't changed.

Any team can swarm the opposition off a very slow POTB even more so when the ground is so heavy underfoot & on a small pitch that Fev have.

Try a fast game, solid underfoot, dry and hot with a decent sized pitch and perhaps even more importantly asking the Fev players to play week in week out at a decent standard of RL & the result would have been a 60 point slamming with Sam Tomkins getting a hat-trick.

Featherstone had their day but let's not lose sight of reality. Halifax slammed 60 points on them the following week.

Perhaps Halifax are the best team in RL?

Are you Steve McNamara? I rate your judgement as highly as I do his.