I think people should be made to post their age when answering this question, Hampson for me was the most assured and confident player I've seen pull a shirt on, and this is from someone who supports Warrington.

If I could replicate a fullback with the exact same skills set as Hampson, Tomkins would never play at 1 again for England

What about Radlinski's support game? Didn't he top the SL try scoring lists at least once?

this is the problem with this type of comparison, some posters were in nappies when Rads was playing from 95 onwards and were not even born when Hambo was in his element.......

One thing you have to factor in is that Hampson was fortunate enough to have 5/6+ world class players by his side and played against much weaker opposition week after week.

That's well and good in attack but fullback is an isolated position and your reputation lives and dies on your own ability.

Full back is one position where - with one or two noticeable short lived exceptions - we've always had some continuity with someone of quality holding down the spot for several seasons. It will be interesting to see who gets the gig long term after Bowen. As to the thread, Sam by a mile. Although if I had to pick a full back in a big game I would deliberate long and hard between Tomkins and Lydon, who could have been the best of all if he hadn't played a lot of his career in the 3/4s, and if he had given a damn in the lesser games.

I reckon Tierney will take over the #1 shirt in 2016 with Hampshire taking the #6 spot in 2015. Plenty rugby between now and then though

Rads for me. Nothing against Sam and he has been great for us but think the better teams have sussed out how to stop him more this season and will be interested to see how he goes on in the NRL assuming he gets a game as third choice fullback over there. I only have to think of the challenge cup game against Saints at Murrayfield to think nobody else could have done what Rads did that day. We will never know of course but Rads was the total professional for me and wasn't found whining at the ref like Sam & Briers did every two minutes.
Think Pat Richards deserves an honorary mention as well as he wasn't bad at full back either!

For full back position, I'd go for Kris Radlinski. Sam isn't big enough for 1 on 1 tackles against charging opposition forwards.

For half back, I'd go for Sam, who I still think is a stand off half.

Stevie Hampson wasn't bad either at FB. Must have been his sheer strength, when he was a drayman throwing barrels of ale about for Robinsons brewery.

I have never been convinced that Tomkins is a SO, how can you have a half back is so unpredictable with ball in hand and his running style, as a centre he would be a nightmare to have next to you as you would have no idea what he is going to do.
Remember as well you are talking about a player who is still only at the beginning of his rugby career compared to Radlinski and Hampsons whole career. The comparison can only be made when Tomkins has finished his career and we can look back at what he has done, I am gutted we won’t get to see him play SL for the next few years but at the same time I am interested to see what the NRL can do to his game!

I'd swap Hampson and Sam around but I'd also throw Henry Paul in the mix too.

I do think that the fact that Radders is a one club man, a real gent and came back to help out clouds people's views of him as an RL player. He was a very good player but he didn't have the flair of Tomkins, Paul or even Connolly.

With regards to Hampson, I once asked John Monie who was the better fullback in Hampson and Lydon. He said "If Hampo is fit, Hampo plays. Simple as that".

Did you ask him what their Body Fat % was?
Or
How many Weetabix they had for breakfast?