and it gives us important options at 9, which is an area where we are also suffering

Heard that also, makes sense, after barely playing for 12 months FB is an awfully exposed position to make your comeback.

Sarge said a couple of weeks ago that when Sam is back he'll do a better job than him, when asked if he wanted to carry on playing FB. Has it changed since then?

If Tomkins does play in the halves I would expect Wane to move Williams rather than Smith to 9 anyway.

George is a much better tackler and runner and therefore more suited to playing hooker than Matty.

That's true but your hooker generally gets interchanged, and is less likely to get the ball in space. I'd want Williams on for the full 80 rather than Smith, and I'm sure you would agree that he's more likely to make something happen when he gets the ball in space. Perhaps having Williams switching between the two roles mid game could be the way to go, with Powell coming off the bench for Smith (Williams moving from 9 to 7 to accommodate). It worked pretty well in 2010 when we used to bring Deacon off the bench to push Leuluai to hooker.

Yes I do agree with that. Powell has been excellent this season against all predictions but I think that a combination of Powell and Williams would be better.

I'd want Sam in the halves for the rest of his career. It will take time for Sam to get properly match fit which to be fair, could take months rather than weeks. Remember he hardly played all last season too. He will take over the organisation of the team from Matty in any case.

I'd keep Sarge at full back too. Gildart should be given time in the centre as long as he's playing okay, which at the moment he is. All of which probably means that we need both a full back and a winger for next season, one of whom needs to be a kicker. Any ideas?

Wane said after the game yesterday that Sam Tomkins return will put pressure on Sarginson and Gildart so it looks like he's pencilled in for full back unless Wane is bluffing.

These things don't always seem to work out but he also stated that theres a god chance everyone bar Micky Mac will be back for the Hull game on Friday. That will be much needed going off their form yesterday!

I agree with everything you say there, a rarity! I wonder whether Rocky will gain a new perspective following his time at Cas and return happy to play full back? He's not looked too bad there at Cas IMO, he would add pace to the side and he's a pretty good goal kicker. Having Sam Tomkins in the halves would mean that they can swap mid game if Rocky is struggling under the high ball or we just need to shake things up a bit. Winger-wise I hope we are looking to the NRL, let's get a real athlete with a bit of size.

Other than that I'd like to see us sign a utility back to cover for injuries, someone from one of the lower clubs with a fair bit of SL experience a la Sarginson when he signed. I don't think Higginson is ready to be first reserve centre, and pulling Bateman out of the pack weakens us significantly. Not convinced Tierney provides good cover on the wing either.

I think Tierney is a very good reader of the game and has better positional play than Sarge, he's also a better tackler. I'm happy with him as a squad player but not as first choice. He won't let you down defensively. He does have decent pace too.

I'd be happy with Hampshire at full back, but he is suspect under the high ball though he has improved.

I agree about getting in a decent winger from the NRL. I'm not too keen on Solomona who is the latest rumour. And I didn't fancy Carney whose game is riddled with errors.

So it's been announced by Wigan that Sam will play some part in this Friday's game.
It's been mentioned that he's been training in the halves but I can't see him starting the game.
Long term I would hope that he can play at 6 with William's at 7 but as he's not played there for probably 6 years I think it will take more than a couple of training sessions to get him up to speed.

Agreed!
Although I think he is THAT good that he can hopefully just slot straight in.

I think it's pretty much nailed on that he will start off the bench against Hull and go to 6, with Williams going to 9 and Powell getting a long overdue rest.

Keep Sam as a FB. a dynamic player in todays game thrives off more of a free role. Your 6/7 are 'feeders' who bring others into the game, Sam is better suited to linking up in the 3/4 line pivot, that's where he is most deadly. Our attack will improve in leaps and bounds when he's back at 1.

I'm of the opinion that we need our best players on the pitch and 1. Sarginson 6. Sam 7. Williams is more appealing than having Smith in the mix.

I've been one of Smiths biggest critics this year but I do think we'll see a different player when he's got Tomkins, Williams and Lockers alongside him. He's certainly not good enough to be a man who can run a game on his own and grip games by the nuts but with those guys around him it should allow him to play his natural game. That game is limited but his role can still be an important one in our set up. We need him to find some confidence and for his kicking and passing accuracy to improve because both have been off.

In the short term Tomkins will probably play off the bench but in the longer term I still think we'll see him back at fullback. I'd use Sarginson as a utility from the bench and give him some minutes at 9 to spell Powell. I think he'd go pretty well in there taking on the line.

Isn't the major criticism of Sarginson that he never passes? He's not exactly the best tackler in the world either. I don't think sticking him at hooker is the way forward