(sorry if its been mentioned earlier I cant be bother reading all 4 pages haha)

To me the only reason to move him to 6 or 7 would be because we can get a world class FB in for next season but couldnt find ourselves a new 6 or 7 to replace the outgoing Tommy and possibly outgoing Finch.

OR have a quality fullback in the making (Russell) with a lack of quality halves available to us.

Anyone else think with how structured our attack is we could have a lineup something like:
1: Tomkins
6: Russell
7: Smith
13: O'Loughlin

With O'loughlin/Smith taking the roles of first recievers on each side or second link, and allowing both Russell and Tomkins to roam in the manner Sam already does? And have Sam at FB as his defensive aspects are better than Russells there?

I'd rather have Sam at the back (though naturally couldn't be sure of Russell in the defensive line). Either way, we'd still have a relatively fluid structure - Russell and Tomkins could easily rotate between the ghosting 3rd pivot and further in. I'd like to see Tomkins upping his distributional game slightly more this year as well as acting as the running half. Would make him even less predictable chiming into the threequarters that way.

I find it a bit baffling how this thread has popped up duringa period when the team, and Sam in particular, are playing some of their best rugby. I know we have next year to think about but lets just wait and see what happens with finch/further recruitment. Moving Sam back to 6 is always an option, but I don't think it would be wanes first choice option and I'm adamant that if we do lose both finch and tommy then we will see a replacement in both positions brought in, the salary cap and quota would certainly allow for it.

Well said

I'm not calling for Sam to be switched to half back but I thought we lacked fluidity in attack with Lockers standing in at 7, I wouldn't mind Tomkins being tried out at half back for spells during our next game to see what impact he could bring from this position in play making and running the ball. I thought with out Tommy Sam was less effective tonight and obviously Lockers was playing out of position.

Yes I agree with this but think Lockers will improve with the more games he has at 6. Must say that I think we are going to really miss Tommy more than I thought.

As I said when Tommy went down, I'd rather give Mellors a run of games to see if he's got what it takes. He looked good against us tonight.

lockers and finch both struggled with timing passes, as lockers got caught at the line a couple of times and finches passes were knocked down or intercepted a couple of times. may have just been mellor knowing finches game though. give them time.

Cant see Lockers or Tomkins being at half back for next season..

I'd take Rob Burrow if he suddenly became available