He isn’t and won’t ever be another Tomkins because he doesn’t have the pace. He’s far from slow but Sam was electric in those first few seasons. I’d say Welsby picks a pass better than early Sam Tomkins (but Tomkins has developed ten fold on that due to losing that pace) but he’s well behind in terms of individual threat. Realistically I think Tomkins started at 6 but made the right move to go in to 1, whereas I think Welsby should go the other way. We’d then probably compare him more to guys like Williams, Lomax or actually a comparison to a modern day Sam Tomkins would be more apt. He is now a quicker version of the Sam Tomkins we see playing today.

I don’t disagree with any of that.

On Welsby that’s another match winning try today. He’s clearly listening to Wellens who has encouraged him to run more. He’s a big strong lad who’s hard to put down.

Hopoate now injured again to add to Hurrell and the others. Big win today under the circumstances, we were excellent second half after an awful first half.

What's your take on the referee Stu?
Paul Rowley has had a real moan, called him a disgrace. I've seen the tries after the Leeds v Leigh game and the Lees one looks very very debatable>

One thing I admire about the Saints players, is that when a couple of injuries occur, lads who have been off their best step up. We saw it with Lees at the back end of last season, when Walmsley was out and after Walmsley and Passi were ruled out a couple of weeks back and things looked tricky, Welsby seems to have woke up big time. He’s needed to, because it’s been a couple of scrappy wins and without him, they’d have been 2 defeats but it shows a really strong mentality throughout the squad.

We were right at the front as my 12 year old lad was with me and my mates 5 year old came with us so we got in really early to stand at the front.

The Lees one was fine, clearly comes off the Salford player first. I thought he was inconsistent both ways, at one point after a Salford try Makinson says to the touch judge “Sir every tackle they are doing is a shoulder charge” you could hear him from where we were. Delaney (who was superb) was targeted a few times and high shots were let go and they slowed the ruck down too.

With any ref, supporters from both sides will find fault.

Was good to see Partington engaging in some banter with the Saints fans.

We’ve not got the squad depth to cope to be honest, we are particularly light in the backs. You are right about Welsby though, if he gets injured our season is done.

If we can get everyone back obviously bar Paasi and Walmsley then we may possibly sneak another GF win but any more injuries and we haven’t got the quality in the squad.

If Norman had the aggression of a Lees or a Delaney he would be amongst the best in the league as he’s a ridiculously big unit but just doesn’t run his weight.

Delaney is going to be a sensational player. At 19 to step up like he is doing is superb and when he adds more size he’s going to be exceptional.

The future is bright for English rugby when you have him and Hill coming through at such young ages.

It looked like a knock on on tv but I only saw it once.

Saints have another young prop Noah Stephens in the academy who looks very good.

Yeah he’s played a few for the Reserves now but I think he’s a couple of years away at least before being first team ready.

It does come off the Salford player but how does it end up hitting him?

Knowles has it and appears to try and pass it, but it hits the shoulder of a Salford player stood between him and the tryline.

I'm guessing the ref has given a pass rather than a lost ball, but if that's the case then it surely comes out of the hands forward?

Just watched it again. Definitely a pass, just depends which angle you view as to which way it's going I think, but seeing as the Salford player is ahead of him.........

We need far more than two young props for England to be successful, Australia are producing them by the bucket load. We have got to encourage more juniors into the game and cut back on the non-federation numbers.