If given the choice of having rads or tomkins at number 1 for wigan for the next 10 years my choice would be tomkins. To say rads would have never av dropped that is laughable. So did rads never ever drop a ball then? The conditions where terrible last night and he took a big kick/knee as he collected it so wasnt the easiest to keep hold of. Even billy slater makes little mistakes and he is a miles better player than rads eve was!

i worry about sams ability to keep playing after a big hit, seemed to cop a big one/illegal tackle 10-15 mins in and then did nothing the rest of the first half, seemed scared to attack the line, second half he was brilliant, just a slight niggly worry there for me

i thought Sam was solid enough last night he might not of won MOM but he wasnt poor as some people are suggesting

I thought Sam played well last night!! He always looked threatening with ball in hand and he has the best side-step in Super League by a country mile!! There are many times when he should be tackled but just wriggles free and carries on running!!

Its unfair to compare Sam to Rads. Its still early days in Sam's role as fullback. He's still learning and is getting better with every game. Rads was a solid full-back who linked up well with the 3/4s but Sam has more flair and agility. Both class players!

come on give the lad a break........its not easy being the most hated man in Rugby league, the pressure must be immense !! even Ryan Bailey has more fans !!
Great player no question of that, shame he resorts to cheating and conning referees.

I think we are starting to get carried away with Sam, he is without doubt the most exciting player in World Rugby League at the moment, but every time he gets the ball, we are expecting miracles. Strangely, I think he beleives he can perform miracles too. Whilst he is a totally different player to Slater, he needs to watch Slater's ability to bring other players into the line, rather than trying everything himself.

Unfortunately, the only way Sam will equal or surpass the quality of Slater is to play in top quality footie every week (ie in the NRL).

erm...

If you want a real laugh, go on Virtual terrace and get on the Sam Tomkins thread.

"he's the most overrated SL player ever"

"he cant tackle"

"he's crap"

"he's a cheat"

Love it. Talk about paranoia, jealousy and genuine fear.

he shouldnt have tried to get it back into play......he should have taken the safe option and grounded it or whacked it dead.
his handling errors are beginning to cost us.
made 2 against hudds from kicks through........and only his attacking play that night redeemed him.
he was mediocre against leeds too.

hes having a dip in form.........as all players do.
is the pantomime season putting him off his game one wonders?

and dare i say it?......is it time to put him on the bench for a game to help him concentrate again?
Pat at 1........Sam on bench.

Rads would have taken the safe option and grounded it.

its a no brainer mate.
the best full back weve ever had versus someone playing out of position?

Rads every time

no he shouldnt as he was relieving pressure that was being applied. He is no means mediocre, just because he isnt scoring from every play doesnt make him poor.

Agreed. In fact, should it not have been a penalty to Wigan - you can see quite clearly on the TV footage that after Sam has gathered the ball Widders kicks him and the ball.

I dont think there was a safe option the ball got grubbered thorugh on a wet greasy pitch and traveling at speed i dont Sam could of been guaranteed of grounding that ball or putting it dead i think he did the right thing put his body on the line and on this occasion it didnt pay off.

I also dont agree about a dip in form he was solid against saints in wet conditions, played well against Hudds, Solid v Leeds and solid last night isnt that what you want from a full back?

the best full back weve ever had to possibly one of the best players weve ever had? sam tomkins is making his name in the full back posistion and will only get better. Hes probably the best player in super league and im sure if he was in the nrl he would be doing just as well over there. Rads was a top top defensive full back. fair enough he scored tries but that was because his support play was so good. These days the full backs job is alot more than just catching bombs and being the last line of defence.dont get me wrong that is still important and sam imo does a good enough job but The full back is like another half back these days and one of the main attacking players in the team. Just look at all the best rated full backs in the game and all there main attributes are there attacking more so than there defensive qualities!

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Agreed.

Brett Hodgson and Clint Greenshields are a prime example of modern fullback play over here (Along with Sam) the likes of Slater, Darius Boyd, Hayne and Dugan take it to a new level on the NRL.