To be perfectly honest, I never thought Tomkins was a full back. Or at least - not a natural one. From the outset I figured he was a stand off more in the Brett Kenny mould. Granted, he needed to work on his wider tactical play. But with one or two seasons in the six jersey it would have developed.

Trouble is - Wigan didn't agree.

Hamshire played tonight but I could have sworn I saw Bowen warming up. I only got in late due to ticket problems so I am not sure, they were leaving the pitch more or less as I took my seat.

Hampshire did OK but he will be a lot busier in defence if plays Friday! Wakey put him under no pressure at all.

It was a great opportunity for Hampshire against a side that threw nothing at him. Like DaveO I thought he did ok but he's capable of much more. He looks a little short of confidence at the minute.

I think we'll see Bowen back in for Friday but Hampshire will get another go on Monday.

I thought he did ok but did add that missing piece of pace on a couple of occasions.
Recent history suggests Bowen will be back but on this occasion I think we might just see Hamshire next Friday and Bowen on Monday

Bowen warmed up as he was 18th man

Think it's telling that Bowen was warming up. Every other time Bowen had missed a game and Rocky had filled it, it has always been labeled as "Bowen has a slight injury" or "Bowen has been rested". And he has never warmed up with the team.

This week it appears to me Bowen had been dropped.

Hampshire actually provided an option from FB last night.

Bowen is all too happy to pass it on without drawing his man. Hampshire was attacking the line and providing an overlap.

He looked shaky under the high ball, mind so I don't think he's a long term option there.

I think the comparison with Brett Hodgson is telling. Hodgson was arguably somewhat further past his sell-by date when he left Australia than Bowen. I was delighted when we signed MB, as I foresaw another Hodgson, bringing the younger lads through, etc. But although he'd lost pace of course, Hodgson absolutely ran through walls for both the Giants and Wire (as he had throughout his career, and his injury record attests to it). And crucially, he was a very smart footballer who could spot and angle, pick a pass, etc. Bowen has shown no sign of being anything like such a good signing.

Hodgson was a clever player like you say and didn't rely on pace to the degree Bowen has.

We need far more creativity from the back in our system then what Bowen has offered. The amount of times he's had an overlap on and thrown a forward pass or a ball behind a man this season has been poor.

Aside from some big games last year I thought he was superb at times but he looks flat this year.

Bowen definitely relied more on pure speed than Hodgson. He also benefitted from being in a side with Thurston, which meant his role was generally one of supporting planned moves, rather than making them himself.

I really hope he doesn't end up tainting his reputation by playing on too long. He would have been great for Wigan and SL in the form of a few years ago, and it will be a shame if you never really got to see the real Matt Bowen.

Its sad in a way that many people have not seen Bowen in his prime, to say that he is a shadow of his former self is probably an understatement.

In his prime he was an excitement machine and although we have seen glimpses of his magic I do think injuries and age have caught up with him, the speed is just not there anymore.

He deserves to go out on a high after what he has given the game but its difficult to see that at the moment.

he's done a couple of length-of-the-field runs this year which have left others standing, but he's then left blowing so hard he's a liability for the next 10 minutes. It [iis[/i a shame, I don't think he came here for a pension, but I suspect he's underestimated the effort needed in SL. Needs to admit he's not up to muster & find family reasons to go back down under.

He's carrying too much weight and that probably fits with him maybe thinking the league would be a bit easier then it's turned out.

I still think he may have a role to play though and he'd be wise using the time to get as sharp as possible.

I really can't see him getting back in now unless Hampshire picks up an injury. Rocky's making the 1 shirt his own and we have so many options in the halves and across the backs there's really no point playing him. It's a shame in a way and I do think he would improve as the grounds firm up but we look much more dangerous with Hampshire's pace out the back.

Would Bowen have scored off the breakaway from Budgie and pass to Hampshire to score ??
That's how they used to play in under 19s Hampshire backing Budgie up.