What's wrong with being a publican?

That's the second time you've said "Go and tell that to..." Obviously you have mistaken my comments for a dig at these players. Think about it, it's actually the opposite.

Regarding Garry Schofield the player

IMO he's in the top 2 players that we have produced in this country in the last 30 years, Ellery Hanley is the other

Garry went from captaining the successful Barla u18's tour to Australasia in 1983 to being a full test player and fulfilling his contract at Hull FC within his first season as a pro, now that is some feat IMO

Before you get carried away naming today's players in SL as being world class

IMO you have to prove yourself where it matters most and that is in Australia, and both Garry and Ellery certainly did that, and on numerous occasions

World class player but sadly a bitter and twisted individual

I wouldn't bother trying to defend Schofield. He spent his last five years at Leeds doing everything in his power to get to Wigan.

"is going to be....."

Thats not the same as having been there and done it.

I remember seeing a young Leon Pryce come through I though there and then this lad was going to be the best player in a generation and would overtake the likes of Schofield, Hanley....for an 18 year old to have that much strength and ball sense I thought we had found a gem. Yes he went on to become a fine player but not quite what I thought (and I wasn't alone in thinking that).

Sam Tomkins does look a fine player but as yet he is not in the league of guys like Schofield, Hanley, Offiah and Edwards, or Jonathan Davies. If he was he would be head and shoulders above Super League and there wouldn't even be debate over should O'Loughlin be man of steel or Tomkins.

So no not in denial although I think Sam is a fine player and he is getting better and more consistent all the time, he has got some way to go to be considered along with those guys.

tomkins has been there and done it, won more larger prizes than Schofield. Do you think an aussie club would have signed him if it wasnt the off season and it had to be a long term deal as thats the difference between now and then.

Paul Wellens has won more major trophies than Sam Tomkins has had hot dinners, does this mean Wellens is a better player?

I'm not sure what this business about him going to Australia has anything to do with it....I don't say players are great just because they got signed by an Aussie club, Ian Sibbit and Chris Thorman played in Australia but I don't think they are better than Keith Senior or Lee Briers who never did.

The fact is if you are old enough to remember Schofield play you would remember he was a genuine world class player in any era of the game, and he did it over a long time period. Sam Tomkins is just a young emerging talent who has got a long way to go to match Schofield, although I accept he does appear to have the calibre to be up there at that level over the next few years.

I reckon that Schoey, Hanley etc could have signed long term contracts over there without doubt, I would have thought at any clubs too

if you don't believe me ask your daddy

Dont need to fella as I saw him myself. Why didnt they sign him for a long deal after all if you listen to him he was the messiah.

did wellens win more than sam at his age?

you're embarrassing yourself now

watch the interview petal then come back....

God you're thick




Ask mummy and daddy to explain it if you cant understand this simple primary school standard post



you were in the plasticine model making class then

Yes when Wellens was 22, he had won three Grand Finals, a Challenge Cup and a World Club Challenge.

Tomkins is 22 and has won one Grand Final.

But that doesn't mean anything as to who is better anyway, I think Tomkins is better than Wellens was at that age. It was you who brought up the 'show us your medals' argument to say that Tomkins has won more than Schofield. Most of the current Warrington team have won more major medals than Schofield, does it mean they are better than him?

I just think he was a good one out of a ok bunch. Not a lot of full time pros and so on. He even said virtually the same when we lost to the aussies.

Oh the irony. Can you read? Did you read my post? [size=150WATCH THE INTERVIEW [/size<-- can you see it now

In response to your last post both Edwards and Gregory were better than Schofield. so thats 2 more....

what, Pieman's outrageous statement that Schofield was just a 'good one out of an ok bunch' or the even more outlandish claim that Schofield said the same about his own ability?

I can't believe you have referred to Leon Pryce in a discussion about the greatness or otherwise of Sam Tomkins. Sam is already a much better player than Pryce ever was or ever threatened to be. Your credibility is shot to pieces. Ridiculous.

Sam is going to be a legend. The only question is whether people will merely say that he was a great player and one of the best of the modern era or whether they will rate him alongside, or even head of, the rugby god that was Hanley. The more I see of this lad the more I think Hanley is going to struggle to retain his top spot. I just can't wait to see how Tomkins goes over the next couple of years. He is an extraordinary talent and it is so exciting to watch him get better and better and better.

I wasn't really bothered by what Pieman thought of Schofield, or what Schofield thinks of himself, it was just his reference to the likes of Hanley, Edwards and Gregory (Andy and Mike) et al as an "ok bunch" which I found rather shocking.

Like he said himself, there were 6-7 class players surrounded by average players in the GB team and in the league....did you see the interview too? I am only saying what he did.

i used to watch rugby with Nick in his Horwich pub..... Still a damned impressive bloke. A local drinker told me, " oh there is never any trouble in here, any fighting is done outside".

Yes I did see the interview and ,as usual, came away with the feeling that Schoey just seems to enjoy courting controversy and setting himself up as some self acclaimed spokesman for the "flat cap brigade"!
But am I not right in thinking that the "ok bunch" were your choice of words?
It's just that I think that the "ok bunch" referred to got us the closest we've been to a series win over the Aussies since the "Great Bitch Slapping of 1982!" As well as regularly beating the Kiwis.
We're all entitled to our opinions, both you and Schoey alike, it's just that I think that this particular group of players should be remembered as rather more than just an ok bunch.
But hey, that's what a forum is all about!

The thing is, most of the 1990/1992 side would probably walk into the 2011 side (certainly skill wise) yet the game has apparently improved.

Isn't Garry Schofield the only Englishman to top the try scoring charts in the NRL ?


And he was class as a player. Proof that he was a class player was the fact he was class as an International. Still a gob though