Best british fullback by a country mile.!

Personally i think he should play 6. He played there all his life until the middle of last year. Yes is superb and coming into the line with his electric pace. however i think teams are watching out for that now. Personally i think he'd be better at 6 to get his hands on the ball more.

He's in for MOS because he is already very good player and could become great. He would probably have been considered if he were playing prop as he can certainly play the game.

Still think his defence isn't up to it (was run over again yesterday for a try) and i realise that there is a belief that joining the line and attacking is what a modern full back should be doing. That is all very well but not to the detriment of the defensive necessities of full back. Look at how much work he had to do defensively in the CC semi final and see how it affecting the team's attack. Two weeks ago he missed some crucial tackles, Richards still drops into full back to collect high kicks occasionally and more than once Tomkins was out of position defensively.

Since hurting his shoulder/arm just before half time a fortnight ago against St Helens, he hasn't played as well.

He could be the best standoff in the world...he will never be the best full back.

He has been very dangerous in a number of games from Full back this season. When the forwards have gained the advantage he chimes into the line well and is just as effective as if he was playing 6. I think FB gives him more freedom and options. Just before Wembley he was lethal from FB but since he has looked out of sorts for some reason. I really don't know why he has started throwing the ball across to his winger instead of running it back which he used to. Maybe he has picked up an injury or maybe just having a dip in confidence following the publicity over his Wembley moment.
I sincerely hope for his sake and England's that people get behind him when he pulls on the England shirt for the 4 nations and cut out the ridiculous booing. We need everyone behind the team if we are to have any chance of challenging the Aussies. I will certainly be behind all the players including Roby, Sinfield, Westwood etc. When they pull on the England shirt all the club rivalry and banter will be left behind.

I think he can play both equally as well. How can anyone question his defence? He made a superb cover tackle in the first minute of the play off game at the DW and his defence was absolutely superb to stop Gaskell passing or scoring yesterday. It reminded me of Radlinski the way he held off Gaskell and forced him to make a hash of it. That was as good as any defensive full back play you will ever see.

I think the reason hes not been quite as effective in attack recently is due to him carrying a bit of an injury. When he broke yesterday and got ankle tapped 2 months ago he would of been out of sight and it would of been a try.

Gaskell was running at full pace and was less than a yard out when Tomkins hit him. No fullback in the world would have prevented that try. It was the defenders in the line who let him make the break that were at fault.

Spot on, Sam did well to have the impact that he did because Gaskell was going through at full pelt. You cannot alter the laws of physics, no full back would of stopped that try.

Our sam hasn't been his self of late weather it's fatigue his shoulder injury playing up or just fooked after one he'll of a long season one things for sure he is the best full back in the game and waney would be silly to bring him back to the halves who is gonna replace deacs??thoughts??

Admittedly the gap left in the line helps, but Gaskell was more then fifteen metres out when he got the ball. The reason tomkins could only make contact a metre or so from the line is that he was still coming across and not in the best defensive position during the play and not moving forward to meet the attacker. Still......

The previous PTB was about 10 metres in from the right touchline. Sam was following the ball back across the line. For me Sam wasnt at fault for that try, Leuluai and Hansen left a massive hole 10 metres from the try line. The FB is expected to be a solid last line of defence, but imo is not expected to stop those one on one.

Try him or play him there? If he is only [itrying[/i him there who is going to get the starting number 6 jersey? None of the alternatives are good enough for various reasons. Deacon needs to retire. Lockers playing 6 means the best 13 at the club is in the wrong position. Tommy at 6 means Micky Mac has to do the full 80.

I certainly hope Wane does try the younger players out. I think we all agree it should have happened this year already but it didn't so we have to adopt a realistic approach and I don't see the alternatives to Sam back at 6 as realistic at all.



And if Sam isn't injured and is playing 1 who plays 6? See above for the dilemma.



It is because we have no obvious candidates but then we don't have any for 6 either if you insist Sam has to play 1.



Six is also a problem. But of course moving Sam to 6 to solve that one means full back needs filling.

So hypothetically speaking lets say Roberts operation fails and he can't play FB to allow Sam to go to 6. We then have a choice. Give Mellor the 6 jersey full time to keep Sam at 1 or promote Russell to move Sam to 6.

The right answer to this conundrum is which of those two would have the best chance of hacking it full time in SL. So out of those two for those who watch the U20's, which one is it?

None of these questions can be answered until we know exactly where we are in terms of recruitment. The players you have mentioned might not be the only options.

Then answer the questions based on the assumption we won't recruit anyone. That is as good a rumour any as it has been mentioned we won't be recruiting due to junior players having salaries upgraded.

In any case Father Ted who's post I was responding to never mentioned recruitment n relation to the half backs and I was pointing out the dilemma that posed.

So if we don't bring in a half back who gets the starting 6 jersey in 2012? Give me a name and reasons why they should get it.

At the minute I cant answer that. Our 2011 season has just finished and we dont yet know for definite what the squad will look like for 2012. After next year's squad has been finalised I'll be happy to give my opinion on who will play where.

I would imagine that if we aren't bringing in a half or hooker then Deacon has decided to go round again (wrong decision imo). I honestly think IL will have something up his sleeve though, after 2 successful seasons challenging for trophies he's not going to leave the squad short in key positions.