Not in the slightest. We mullered Salford at our place, but he was a different class even in defeat. Difficult to get a tackle on him and really directed play, even when he was in the centres.

The maturity of his play belies his years.

Good, I wish we could see him in a good side though, hopefully Salford will build around him and give Wire/Wigan/Saints good matches in the future and only lose to Wigan

Best kicking game out of the new guys too imo.

I also seem to recall a ton of people losing their top-scorer bets the year after... He was in hot form and there weren't any in-form wingers at the time to be fair, let alone english ones.

I agree, but what would be your stance if Myler plays well score a couple of tries and creates a couple more in a m.o.m. performance, whilst McGuire has an average to poor game, only for Myler to be "rested" for the next game in favour of Tomkins.

Here's what I posted on the Wigan site.

"The only thing I will say about the Tomkins omission is that I hope Smith has the balls to take Sam to one side and explain why he has made the decision.

It could be that he wants to give other players a go who haven't played since the grand final.

I do think that Sam will play at Wigan."

I would have loved us to have signed ratchford. Brilliant player

I think that may happen as well.

Far too many people jumping the gun just to moan and have a go at Smith an the comp aint even started yet.

Well 12 months ago, Tomkins wasn't even part of the Wigan first team, so lets give him time to develop and show he can play consistently to a high standard.

Tony Smith made him look like an amateur in the semi final.

Well to begin with, if that was the case, there would be a lot of red faces on here, especially in the Wigan and St Helens RLFANS camp.

In all honesty, I would consider that a strange decision. You would have thought in that situation that McGuire would have been dropped in favour of Tomkins. However, at the end of the day, it's the coach's decision. It would be a big gamble though.



I agree. However, I can see Smith being the kind of coach who would do that.

I agree Tomkins should have probably been given the nod - but who knows he could have picked up a slight knock.The thing I dont like about Tomkins is that he is a petulant little so and so and can lose his rag at the drop of the hat.A little bit of sledging and he is put off his game.Look at the Semi against us , they were all winding him up especially King and Clarke and he could not take it.Look at the cricket and the Aussies are past masters at sledging and I think the Rugby team would be much the same.

What ever did happen to his bookmarks?

Very true.

Obviously you did not see the Wigan game v Salford in the Challenge Cup.

Nyler was so poor defensively that he finished up defending on the wing just to get him out of the way.

Myler, Tomkins and Eastmond are all great young prospects and need encouraging not destroying.

My concern is that Tomkins form should have dictated he played.

Similarly I do not understand Smiths decision to play James Graham on the bench.

My post on the Wigan site "Apart from the Tomkins issue, which has now been done to death I don't understand the selection of James Graham on the bench.

Graham is NOT an impact prop. He doesn't makes a lot of metres per carry. His major strengths are his fitness, tenacity, durability, stamina and his ability to take on a number of drives per set.

Morley on the other takes less drives but will make more metres per drive.

I would have had Graham and Peacock starting with Morley and Carvell on the bench.

Dropping Carvell is another strange decision, he and OLoughlin were top tacklers last week.

myler had to defend on the wing ,thats called tactics pal you dont want your half back tackeling so you save then for attacking wrong again,impact prop ,who is a inpact prop they all do the same ,20 mins then back on and fresh again ,graham makes loads of metres per carrie ,how is morley aimpact prop but grahams not wrong again