Saints fans logic. He didn’t make many post contact meters. Had a rubbish game. Matty lees never makes post contact meters. Oh lees was immense

It’s a fair part of a props job. You can have a good game without winning the collision and making loads of ground and Thomson did have a good game but he doesn’t seem as effective as he once was. People like Lees because he’s a huge part of setting our tempo. He doesn’t make a lot of post contact metres but he does regularly dominate in the tackle.

Most people aren’t saying lees was immense on Friday though, they’re saying the likes of Walmsley, Mata’utia and Knowles were

He made over 100 metres.

I agree with this and he hasn’t really bossed many collisions all year, although he does have a very quick PTB.

In the second half he returned a drop out and skittled 3 defenders. People around me mentioned that would do him good.

Yes, but he also took on a lot of carries to get it

16 wasn't it? It would have took Lees 30.

And?

I'd be much more concerned if he only had 5 or 6 carries which was pretty much the norm for some of our props a couple of seasons back

Jamie Peacock used to average 5 meters per carry most weeks.

One of the best props I’ve ever seen.

Yeah I’m not trying to say he didn’t play well and I said I thought he had a good game. I was just observing that he didn’t seem to be winning many collisions and doesn’t seem as effective as the guy that left us in 2020. He’s got a great engine and he’s always going to run his blood to water and I feel like whilst his ceiling may not be as high as it used to be, his floor is still higher than most.

No matter what Thompson does, there will always be ‘yeah but…’ from opposition fans. He fits perfectly into our rotation doing what he’s doing and when Havard and Walters join him we’ll be looking at major dominance in the middle of the field.

Haven't read the whole thread.

But Thompson has been our best forward this season so far (which is no mean feat either). Very impressed with him. His passion v Salford in driving that player over the touchline which we eventually scored off was great to see.

England honours coming you'd think along with Dupree.

Dupree has a little way to go IMO yet if he wants to become a regular in the England set up. I really rate him but he hasn't found the consistency yet that Thompson has shown. It's to be expected, he's still quite young and inexperienced and the same goes for guys like Byrne and Havard. The beauty is these guys all add so much to the side but have plenty left to come yet.

One thing I wouldn't do is to accidentally downplay Saints defence in all of this. It was unbelievable and has been all season. To break 100 metres as a prop against Saints is no mean feat and if he runs it like that against most other sides, I think you could add 40/50 meters on top. Another thing seemingly being overlooked is that Thompson is still on the comeback trail from a really serious injury and that can take time. To be playing at the level he is already is a testament to how good he is.

He's been absolutely superb so far for us.