We'll never know, but I don't think Melling was destined for the 1 jersey. Ashton came through not long after, which I think would have spelled the end for Melling at Wigan given that we had cover in Colbon, Sean Gleeson and Goulding. Don't forget we were still fairly poor at converting youngsters into regular starters at the time Melling was coming through as well. Nearly all the youngsters we produced around that time ended up forging decent SL careers at other clubs. If he came through a few years later then maybe.

That CC semi was a massive upset. Wigan had all the stars and were flying.
The very bad aspect of Tomkins came out, when he stopped playing mid action and starte chasing the ref, leaving a massive hole for Hardaker to stroll through...
I remember laughing at the time, looked so comical and amateur like....

Yeah there was a season when he came back from NZ where he seemed to spend every game doing that, combined with wrapping himself around defenders looking for a penalty. I thought he was done, but the season after he screwed his head back on and played brilliantly again in his last season for us (albeit in more of a creative role) and has continued to do so for Catalans. He's a clear choice for England this time for me.

I think he might actually be better suited to internationals now then he was at his blistering best. He looks to have worked so hard on his defence, his organisational skills and his play making. There’s very little space in internationals against the top sides and a lad who can blitz superleague defences with his individual running game won’t find it as easy to find space against the Aussies and Kiwis but if you’ve got a lad with the ability to be a play or two in front and work space for others than your chances improve.

He’s absolutely nailed on for the fullback shirt IMO. I’d personally have him in the conversations for the captaincy.

Agreed. Except I'd have him in the halves now too not a massive fan of Lomax. In tough games against us I think he tends to spend a lot of time on the floor getting treated, then go missing. The aussies and kiwis often get nasty when they sense an upset, ask Long and Deacon who both got serious facial injuries in internationals we have won.

Agreed. Not even a discussion about fullback. He was back to his very best last year....

Just realised I totally forgot Gale. Dur. Disregard my last post. Tomkins at FB, Williams and Gale in the halves.

That shot had nothing to do with Winning instinct. Was one of the worst things I've seen on a rugby field.
As bad as the assault on Ronan O 'Gara, which you can watch in graphic detail on YouTube

Spot on.

I think one thing that does tend to get overlooked a little with Faz is his goal kicking, to be able to play the way he did but also convert from our wide under pressure was outstanding, not forgetting his drop goal ability too.

Double post

Just scored a cracking try..

Tomkins is certainly one of the best fullbacks I've seen at Wigan. Up there with Radlinski, Hampson and Henry Paul certainly. One name that hasn't been mentioned on here much is Joe Lydon who was superb at fullback. A real big game player who could turn a game on his own. He could score from anywhere on the pitch. Then there was his amazing kicking out of the hand not to mention drop goals (THAT semi final drop goal from 60m for instance).

I think if you could take aspects of all the players above you'd have the perfect fullback. Lydon's pace and big game mentality, Hampson's defence and freakish ability under the high kick, Henry Paul's unorthodox ball skills, Radlinski's support play up the middle and Tomkins ability to chime into the line and hit the gap or put someone else in.

Joe Lydon waa a cracker. Hope I'm not jinxing Tomkins for the rest of the game, Cats v Wakey but he's been imperious so far.