I think Sam would kill it in RU for what its worth.

The amount of space he'd find off 4 thousand kicks a game which he would return if he plays at FB, and their staggered defensive lines chasing, he would find gaps what the Yawnion followers didnt even no existed.

I think there would be a danger of this being coached out of him though. Sam's style wouldnt suite union atm because there would always be a danger he'd be caught in possession on his own.

I think he'll end up in the NRL, with a lot of other British players as well, not only is the cap increasing, so are the playing squad sizes (25 to 30 players) and also apparently the competition as a whole from 16 to 18 teams. Thats 140 extra players in the competition, these cant all come from the academies. As long as the RFL refuse to change the current policies we are going to see a continual drain of our best talent. Thankfully it's in the correct code but unfortunately it's on the wrong side of the world!

I don't see either brother making a huge success of it. Fifteen defenders in or level with the ruck = not enough space. That's why even union's homebred superstars aren't super very often.

Same thing crossed my mind. There is actually no news in that article. It is all Ashcrofts opinion and nothing more.

I seriously hope Sam plays crap in the 4 nations. I couldn't really care less if England do pants again, it will be no different to what I am used to. I am going to Wembley with some mates but I seriously find myself excited by the prospect of watching Lockyer in one of his last ever games and seeing Marshall run riot, I am not looking forward to seeing our national team play. This really saddens me, it's not an opinion I want to have. A huge contrast to 2004, I went to Elland Road and can't remember ever being so excited for a game of rugby, the excitement was for our home team and not the aussie stars.

The reason people are talking about Tomkins leaving all comes down to our sport going downhill compared to Union, this wouldn't happen if our international game had some credability. When our fans boo the players and the RFL play the games in small empty stadiums, why would he want to stay in league? It's only 6 years ago that we were playing games as GB infront of 40k at eastlands and Elland road and beating the aussies and NZ. If that were to happen again then I'm sure we would find it easier to keep hold of players, we could pay them more for international rugby etc.

Maybe Sam won't leave, maybe he will. Either way this is the start of many of us getting annoyed at hearing about the rumours all the time, it will get worse if he has another good season and Joel leaves.

I would much rather see him go to the NRL and rival Slater as the worlds best full-back, I think he has the potential.

Finally, just the fact we have to question him leaving or not is starting to get to me as a RL fan, I hate that we have to be on guard as a sport, worried that our best players might leave. I just don't like the situation at all.

I can't see Sam doing that well at all in the 4N's.
Hasn't played that well since Wembley (injury or otherwise...take your pick). He struggled through last Friday before being brought off...although he put a decent pass in to get us back from behind.

Something just doesn't seem right with him, he doesn't look the same player who tore Wire & Stains apart in the CC.

I think the main reason he will play poorly is the players around him. Everything we do in attack at Wigan links up with Sam in one way or another. The England players don't know his game. I lost count of the amount of times he would run around the back of the dummer runner last year down under and he was not given the ball.

Billy Slater seems to do okay in the Kangaroo team despite being surrounded by players from other clubs who aren't fully familiar with his moves?

Difference is Slater will play with a domanating pack and the best halves combination in the game who will create space for him. Put Slater in a England shirt he would struggle as well.

Look at the way the aussie clubs play across the NRL though. It fits the mould.

I think the state of origin games help with the national sides cohesion, Lockyer and Thurston have been halves in both origin and national teams for so many years they know each others games inside out and sowill Billy Slater.

X2

Lazy journalism by a lazy journalist for a lazy paper. Does Barker get paid for this - rings a mate up who is probably sitting in the tap room of the Rose and Crown - "Kevin / Alex / Martin what do you think about this". Utter crap.

For some reason Barker seems to have an agenda against Wigan though I believe he is a Wiganer.
Two classic comments I remember form him:
Wigan will never again be able to play at the JJB if Latics reach the Premier league.
Forget the South of France, the RL should be promoting the sport in Blackpool.
I kid you not!

Yep totally agree, I dont think Sinfield and Chase as a HB combination works at all. They dont get the plays moving where Sam can wrap around the back and join the line late. Sinfield is too slow as a 6, hes a class act and a very clever but definitely not an international 6, especially at this stage of his career. Chase is a bit too "off the cuff" to be disciplined enough to get the moves going. Watching the friendly last week I was quite happy we didnt sign him because I dont think he would suite our style of play at all.

With Sinfield and Chase as the HB partnership we are wasting our best player.

And neglecting one of the most consistent halfbacks in the NRL - Gareth Widdop!