Tom had another awesome game today however there is still some more to come from him, as people have mentioned he is still very grounded. I hope we can keep him playing well and in the RW&B but I agree with jonh in the aspect that Johnstone will eventually be picked up by an NRL team as he definitely has everything they want in their backs (pace, strength, in air ability and defence).
I thought he was MOM today for his two try saving tackles on JJB and ZH which I still dont have a clue where he come from as they thought so too! All they probably thought they had to do was put the ball down. I hope TJ keeps working hard as he will go all the way (If he keeps it up) and he deserves it!

This guy deserves all the recent accolades that he's been receiving. Hope he has the strength of character to not let it go to his head and develop some sort of prima donna (is that the right word) persona?. We've seen it before. Just carry on playing your natural game Tom and do your best for Trin!!

Try of the season, tackle of the season. Outstanding, great to see him prove the doubters wrong

It was great vision of him for his pass to Miller, a lot of younger players there may have got try line fever.

His defence in the last couple of games has been outstanding.

A bit too early yet for England I feel, but certainly worth a shout for young Super League player of the year

If Wigan do actually make a move for him I hope we tell them where to go.

What a statement of intent that would be!

No, he didn't score it! He beat the entire Leeds team on his own, but then gave it to Mason who scored!

One of us has a corrupted memory!

We seem to suddenly have one of SL's hottest properties on our hands - hopefully MC will send any suitors packing and we'll get a few good seasons out of the lad before he makes his next move.

When talking to Mopsey a few weeks back he gave a name for players like Tom but I can't recall what it was. Basically he liked Tom but wasn't sure that his kind of player would make it because they didn't really know the fundamentals.

I think he was and please correct me if I'm wrong saying that Tom arrived in the game late and had a lot to learn. From what I undestand he joined Staningly quite late and was banged on the wing for obvios reasons and was then signed by us for the same reasons. I'm assuming this was the reason why some pundits thought he was suspect, especially with his defence and positioning.

Whether this is right or wrong it no longer matters as Tom has shown an incredible ability to learn (he's only 20!). So to answer your question, given time I reckon Tom could play anywhere in the back line. Better still in time he could easily move to S/O as per Graham Steadman and a few others. He's versatile not just because he's a great athlete but for the obvious (to me at least) fact that his greatest muscle is located between his ears.

He already has.

Been confirmed this morning that both Charnley and Sarginson both leaving Wigan at the end of the year.

Lets hope we keep hold of him

If I remember correctly when Carter took over he made a statement of intent that Danny Kirmond was not for sale. He stuck to his word on that since Kirmo was in form, in demand and a firm favourite with the fans. I suspect TJ is now filling the spotlight and a similar statement of intent is what we need. It also reflects the long term ambition of the club.

I do find it interesting to see how people are all pro TJ now. There were a few critics last season. I must admit I always was pro TJ but thought it would take more time for him to blossom.

I think his worst game was last year away to Hull KR in the normal season. He was found wanting in defence, although probably to some degree not helped by those around him. I kept telling myself he is only young, he needs time to develop, be patient. Well that turnaround was quicker than I expected. He has learnt very quickly and very well. I wonder if that is the Brian Smith influence, the players around him or just overall self confidence.

I love what Tom is doing at the moment and along with England is a clear contender already for our player of the year.

If he keeps up his form and can get some International recognition then I don't see a problem for the next few years, he won't be in a rush to join anyone at 20. However if the selectors do their normal myopic top four only tactics then frustration may set in. We'll see.

For now he needs to concentrate on his Rugby because at the moment he's at that point where he can go down as well as up.

Anyone remember Shaun Ainscough of Wigan - ripped us to bits early in his career when many Wigan fans were on here telling us he was the greatest young prospect ever to hit the game. He's 26 now and at Batley with his career effectively dead. I don't know how or why he got there but he looked the business at 19-20 years of age.

I suppose the redeeming feature with Tom is that the adulation he is getting is not instant as it was with Shaun Ainscough. It's two years since his debut in the Leeds boxing day friendly and they have been two hard years for all concerned. He's had to learn on the job in a poor team and he's had to do it publicly. Due to this I hope he's a more mature and rounded individual than most young RL players and this will help him not make rushed decisions.

We do need to remember that he is young and unfinished.

There is no doubt he is a diamond but he still has a lot to learn (though he seems to be learning fast)

I have every confidence in him, but the things that will go wrong are potentially all on Saturday. If he makes a mistake on Sky, Hemmings will start on at him and suddenly the media train will just turn around and knock his confidence. It's happened to us before.
Some teams stretch us out wide, like Cas and Hull KR and both leave the winger vulnerable. Mantelato (Spell?) and Solomona have made Tom look ordinary, whereas top players like Hall, Makinson and now Briscoe have all been made to look foolish by Johnstone.

We need to protect the kid. Not by leaving him out of the team, but by allowing him some down days as well as up days without stringing him up. We do have a habit of being very fickle with our heroes.

Sky and Clarke in particular are really blowing the Johnstone trumpet (ohh err). I hope they get chance to praise him even more on Saturday. It will be great for both him and the club.

Yeah well the things you outline that could go wrong for TJ apply not just to him but the whole team unfortunately! We've won a couple (good wins as well!) but in true Trinity style we could blow it against Salford and the Vultures will be waiting to swoop!