www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/a ... d=11500311

www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/a ... d=11500311

To be fair, there's not much wrong with what he says there. Basically, "We don't pick the team so we shouldn't talk about it". It's not exactly the blast at Zak that the headlines make out.

That said, it's easier to keep quiet about team selection when you're the incumbent not the challenger. And Hardaker should definitely be #1 for England this autumn.

Hardaker playing better than Sam. Yeah sure it's easy to run at defences like Wakefield every week isn't it. Don't get too cozy on that perch Zak because next season you will be knocked off it again and will become the' nearly best full back in the league again'

He found it pretty easy against Wigan last week, though I take your point about playing poor teams.

I've never known a set of fans ar$e lick the NRL as much as this mob in my life.
No wonder we're always written off before a test with our own lot in awe of everything Australian. So what?

I wasn't aware Leeds played Wakefield every week.

I also wasn't aware that the NRL was full of watertight defences. Someone should tell the Knights and the Titans, who are conceding 26 points per game on average. Only Wakefield and Hull KR conceded more points per game over the 23 regular rounds of SL.

I look forward to ickle Sam's return to either being injured or AWOL in the big games. While O'Loughlin has done well to fill that role in his absence, it's just not the same.

Hardaker most metres in a single league game this season

1 - vs Warrington = 256m
2 - vs Widnes = 217m
3 - vs WIGAN = 216m
4 - vs WIGAN = 209m
5 - vs Hull = 196m

Who are the only team to feature twice on that list???......Ooops



Most tackle busts

1 - vs WIGAN = 12
2 - vs Warrington = 10
3 - vs WIGAN = 8

Oooooops again

Also, the last three seasons of Hardaker at fullback, his metres made, tackles made, and errors made, are all better than that of Tomkins in the two seasons he did at fullback before leaving. If Super league is so bad to judge, how did Tomkins claim the shirt in the first place?

It's impressive but it's not even just that.

His defence is quickly becoming world class - some of his last ditch tackles are incredible and his ability to read the opposition is superb.

Anyway.. I don't really care if he plays for England (sorry Zak) as long as he keeps playing for us.

FFS Guys, there's precious little to be upbeat about for the cherry and whites, don't take away the hero worship of Sam! Of course he's the bestest full back in the whole wide world ever. When he's reunited with his brother they're going to tear up Super League.

Absolutely spot on this.
I'm a big fan of Tomkins as a player, and would go as far as saying he's one of the most talented British players of the last 25 years, but Hardaker is also a pretty special one, and his performances speak for themselves. McNamara has got to give him a gig surely.

Oh the joys of seeing Joel Tomkins once again running 30/40/50m just to get in the face of anybody who dare look at his precious Samuel the wrong way.

I hope Sam hasn't read this as it might send him over the edge..... www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/33976330 McNamara sending Hardaker a text last week to praise him for his recent performances.

I hope Sam hasn't read this as it might send him over the edge..... www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/33976330 McNamara sending Hardaker a text last week to praise him for his recent performances.

What makes it more incredulous is that virtually everyone wants Sam in the team, at 6/7 with Widdop.
The way the Goonfans talk, it's like everyone thinks he wont even be in the squad.

Hardaker has played his way into the FB role with consistent high quality performances over several seasons.
This year he has been outstanding ,with even opposing fans and former players agreeing.

Playing him from the bench or in the centre's when we have Watkins, Reed, Sarge, Percival and at a push , Briscoe or shenton is a terrible idea.

Goons just need to learn that this year, Super Sam doesn't deserve the FB spot.

At a push Shenton? He's been excellent this season, much better centre than Sarginson.

I would still have Reed and Watkins as first choice, Percival as back up. Sarginson, shenton and Briscoe should be in the squad but I'm betting are very unlikely to play.

If hardaker and hall are first choice I'd put Briscoe in ahead of Burgess as the Leeds back three together can be a good unit for England.

If Mcbanana sticks with Sam at FB I'd take Hall and Burgess

Bit of a non story, really. Tomkins asked a question, Tomkins answers the question... He's not said anything controversial there.

What was the question asked of him? Not shown there. Was he asked to comment on Hardakers comments?

By contrast Hardaker was specifically asked about his chances of claiming the spot.

Only the week before last I read an article which he featured in where he was saying how much he was looking forward to playing for England against some of his NZ teammates. He missed out the "if selected" routine as if his position was never in doubt.

He's the most overhyped player of recent times. The RL press over here, the Sky commentary team, and the entire Sky broadcasting team worshipped the ground he walked on. He even had his own features on their RL programmes.

Is it any wonder that it seems to have got to him that he's got a rival?

He's a self-publishing attention seeker who regularly flirted with the Rugby Union press.
As soon as he hits a bit of form over here don't worry, the Union press believing all the hype will be all over him and he'll no doubt do nothing to dampen rumours of him switching codes.

He'd been found out over here by the time he left for Oz. He was anonymous in the big games like he always has been when playing for England against Australia.

Such an amazing season that he's only scored 10 tries and made 5 assists

And saved about 30. You do realise there is two parts to a game?

If that's how you're judging a player's effectiveness you've got a very simplistic view of the game.

Not Shaun Wane, are you?

And how many has Super Sam T done in Super League? eh? eh?

What? Oh....

As a Wigan fan i'm bound to be a little biased here, but i'll try my best to stay as neutral as possible.

For me it depends what the situation calls for.
10 tries and 5 assists for the team that is top of the league isn't really that amazing, and in fact MUCH lower than Sam Tomkins' tries and assists in the Super League were.

However, it is also plain to see that Hardaker is BY FAR the better defensive player.

I would personally play Hardaker at full back and Tomkins in the halves.

For me, in terms of attacking play, Tomkins is better than Hardaker,
And for defensive play, Hardaker is the better player.

I fondly remember the 2012 CC Semi when Tomkins gifted three tries in the first 10 mins and then when he had the try line at his mercy to get Wigan back in it near the end Hardaker produced a trademark top class try saver to deny him.

Still, Sam might run in 4 tries vs Wakey next year so he must be the better bet.