Quote WARRIORCRAIG="WARRIORCRAIG"Absolute rubbish. Sam is not only a fullback, he is easily the best in the league. I was expecting knee jerk reactions after tonight but this is ridiculous. He clearly wasnt fit and hasnt been for a few weeks now. Utilsing a fast, creative player at fullback is the way forward, as you can see from all the top FBs in Australia. We need a 6 to play alongside Finch or a hooker to spell with McIlorum while Tommy plays 7. Sam Tomkins will be Wigan and England fullback for the forseeable.
Richards doesnt have the hands or creative thinking to be a fullback in our system.'"
As you say Sam has'nt looked fit for a few weeks now,but to have the discussion about is he a fullback or a standoff is'nt as simple as that.
This season he has carried the team at times,by not only joining in from fullback but playing standoff on the 4th and 5th tackle. At other times when clearing the lines he has been in the acting halfback posistion,which should be the hookers job.
All this workload as well as taking the high balls from the opposistion and being the last line of defence in the tackling department means he has been taking a bit of an hammering for the last few weeks.
Fans keep comparing him with Billy Slater,what makes Slater that much better is that he plays fullback,joining into the line at the ideal moment and leaving halfback work to the halfbacks.
Last night Sam was seen to be limping a few times,I hope if he has a problem he his given time to rest the injury or get it sorted and not be left to carry an injury through the 4 nations. I really think Sam is showing signs of burnout given the workload he has had to carry this season.