Tomkins is a quality playmaker and is exceptional in broken play, However there are big cracks in his game which as MikeJ points out teams are picking up on. (for example he is dire under a high ball).

Personally, I wouldn't want him at Warrington.

Anyone who says wouldn't want him is kidding themselves or just talking rubbish. He's not commonly regarded as the best player in Super League for no reason.

However, he'll either stay at Wigan for his entire career or see out his contract then go to union or Australia so we won't be signing him. The only way we ever will is if he does go to RU or Aus then decides to return to SL and we throw money at him, but IF that ever happens it will be a good few years after Hodgson retires.

This. Tomkins is a quality player, Every super league club would love him at their club.

This. He might have some problems that teams are starting to exploit, like the high bomb, but sensible play can remove that (e.g. more pressure on the opposing kickers), or moving him away from full back into the halves. I think a major part of how we and others have been neutralising him is that Wigan's entire setup is based primarily around him, which I hope would not be the case here. Could you imagine how much difficulty a team would have trying to pin down a combination like Tomkins, Myler and Ratchford at the same time? If they practice their kicking some more, I reckon that would be a killer England pivot setup...

Ah right, didn't realise he's finished now. James Roby must also be finished since we totally shut him down at Saints away. Yep, may as well release them both so they can see their dwindling careers out at Widnes.

Yes i'd have him but at FB, over Ratchford? No

In the halves

Quality player with ball in hand, defensively, not so.
It would take a huge fee to sign him, and he'd take a huge slice of our salary cap.
I'd rather look elsewhere, and save some money.

The only chance of seeing him in Wire colours, would be at the back end of his career, after being bored in Rah-Rah and his stint in NRL

Anyone caught this?

"I love playing with the lads, we've got a great set-up and I don't want to go anywhere else [sizefor the time being[/size."
'"

At the end of last season Ben Barba got bombed to death in the NRL playoffs and the Bulldogs lost. He spent the off-season practising under the high kicks and came out this season to be one of the world's best attacking fullbacks and has won just about every honour a player can get recently. D'ya not think Tomkins could maybe spend some time improving his "poor" areas as there's not a lot else going to occupy his winter this year.

As far as I'm aware the Tomkins family lived in Warrington when Joel was born but had moved down to MK before Sam was, so he has no allegiance to us, and thinks of himself as a Wiganer. He'll never sign for the Wire. We'll just have to see whether he wants to stay in RL and go down under or follow Joel and play RU as he's openly said he's not going to leave Wigan yet.

Excellent open field runner with ball in hand,just seems to be a bit greedy.Rather go for glory than release his support runner.But i suspose all great players have selfish streak about themselves.

Yes without a shadow of a doubt as a half back. A bit dodgy at FB for me. Never happen though. His future is in Union or the NRL where the real money is.

I've heard it mentioned on TV several times that he was a wire fan in his younger days. I would love to see him here, he is quality. However, if it was for mega mega bucks, which it surely would be, I would prefer to send out the scouts to get us 2 or 3 with potential and hopefully mould them into great players.

thing is though no one ever called Ben Barba the best player in the world last year. no one as far as I saw ever started a serious discussion about him being as good if not better than Billy Slater.

exciting ...yes
a great prospect .......yes

and the same can be said for Tomkins....but come one....!!! hes looked like a junior underneath some high bombs recently.

Tomkins and Wigan fans believe he is the best in the world despite some glaring deficiencies in his game.

and take that recent chip over try against some team that had given up?? apparantly it was world class according to boots n all tonight (Phil Clarke btw). "only Sam Tomkins can do this"...eh? Ive Seen Jarrod Sammutt do that and he's .....

do it at Wembley against the Aussies in the world cup at 16 all with five minutes left then youve got a case....

Ive said several hundred times now he is the best broken field runner in the game but he isnt a great "full Back"

Some Guidlines I go by....
Rangi Chase is not the best half back in The league
Sean O'loughlin is not the best passer of a rugby ball in the game
Sam Tomkins is Not the best player in the world.
Phil Clarke talks .......
i find they get me by just fine.........

I would want him at Wire but not as a fullback but as a stand off ! He isn't the best fullback in the comp imho ! I would say he's forth or fifth best in SL !