its a fan who wrote his opinion its not Shaun or Ian who wrote it. Charnley had all the same hype and he is still here.

Let's not be silly about this ... it's only a matter of time before we lose him. It's only ever a matter of time before we lose our new best players (unless they are playing for Leeds, about whom the mystery drags on), until the British game pulls itself up by his bootlaces and becomes something much improved, or inculcates a central fund by which to bribe these lads to stay. I'm just praying that he goes to the NRL and not RU, so that he doesn't lose his edge, and comes home again after a couple of years. Realistically, I think that's the best we can hope for.

no shortage of wingers in the southern hemi-sphere

No he didnt he said he had the chance to go down under with wigan at the start of the season

The players that Australia rate are the likes of Graham and the Burgess boys. Wingers like Joe are ten a penny down there I'm glad to see. Every team seemingly has a 6'4" and 17 stones young winger.

And after the season Sam has had I don't think they'll be breaking our doors down anytime soon for another Wigan back. Sam has played well in patches but is starved of possession in an inconsistent team - and it really hasn't done his career any good IMO.

Let's not over react about this. We've lost Sam and Lee Mossop to the NRL - and I reckon they will both be itching to get back.

I was in St Helens this afternoon and as I was leaving the Hardshaw Shopping Arcade in walked Sam Tomkins accompanied by a cameraman. I swear that there are people who frequent this forum that, had they witnessed the same, would conclude that he had signed for Saints and would be on here with the news in a flash.

He's under contract until the end of next season and he won't be going anywhere until then. He's already been offered a long term deal at Wigan quite a while ago and as yet he hasn't signed it, he has also been offered a 3yr contract for the Roosters but he hasn't signed that either.

He should do another season then go to the NRL.

Why? He could sign for a 6th or 7th place club over here and be the worlds best winger or even Golden Boot winner!

What would your take be on the likes of Hall, Briscoe, Watkins etc. be then seeing as they have stayed here? Plus the others like Sinfield, jjb,burrows, maguire etc. who didn't show any ambition?
Does that show them up as 2nd rate, flat track bullies with no ambition etc.?

I'd stay till I was about 25 if I were Burgess. Build up a career and a reputation and then go and test myself in the NRL when I was coming in to my pomp and could command top dollar.

We'll see how it goes.

He won't leave for a few years - I'm confident of that.

Other than Chris Ashton under the previous regime, I can't think of another breakout star who left only a year or so after his debut. All of the NRL rumours come and go but isn't it only Tomkins and Mossop who've gone? And that was after a good few years apiece. Even if someone like Josh Charnley leaves, he's given us five years.

Wigan aren't daft enough these days not to enter into negotiations early but more importantly the players aren't that daft to leave an environment that is perfect for their development so early.