I heard a very interesting tale about why Tomkin's has been missing these past two weeks,I'm not sure if there's any truth in it?
But I'll let you all in on it so you can make your own minds up

Apparently one of the young schoolboy pupils that was in "Sam's team" on Boots n All had to miss several training sessions in order to do his paper round after school

Anyway Sam was having non of it and wouldn't pick him,so the paperboy gave him a good hiding

Well I suppose you’ve got to be p*ssed to really chuckle.

I did hear that there had been some kind of training incident but I suspect its far more likely its a combination of protecting himself before his move to the NRL and Apeman wanting to test out his potential replacements

Is this a serious post???

I suspect not. My post was though

Looks like little Sam didn't show up last night either! It's no fun when he's not scoring hat-tricks against Salford and London.

What do you think?

Honestly not a clue

A bit of conspiracy theory about what Sam Tomkins will be doing at the end of this season: Apart from the newspaper stuff a few months ago about his departure to New Zealand Warriors, everything seems to have gone quiet. Could this be because Sam might not be joining the NZ Warriors after all but could instead be on his way to the dark side (rugby yawnion)? Remember all the boos they got when Ashton (Wigan) and Eastmond (Saints) left to play union? Eastmond, Ashton and Joel Tomkins seem to be doing well in the boring game and Sam obviously has sibling and friendship links with at least two of the three I've mentioned. Remember also that Sam scored for the Barbar poofties last season? I sincerely hope I'm wrong because, even though I'm a devoted Saints fan, I admire great players such as Sam, Andy Farrell, Kevin Sinfield, etc and they make our game what it is. Anybody else think we're all being kidded about where he's going or am I just plain barmy?

No mate to be fair it makes sense. Anyone who thinks union is not out to kill our game is nuts and Tomkins would be yet another big scalp. I do think eventually to retain a professional status Leeds Saints and Wigan who I think with the geographical status of Hull are the prime players will join some hybrid rugby union game when line outs eventually go. This could be twenty years away but you cant keep draining players to union and NRL and keep plodding along with the standard of the bottom four or five super league clubs. I hope and pray Lomax is not next. Do I have much sympathy for the under belly of Wigan fans who frequent the two Saints forums not particularly, but I don't think its good for the loyal fans of the game who shell out each week. It is very easy especially for the younger element to lose confidence in the product just look at the crowds in the lower divisions Oldham 400 Whitehaven 900 and these where historic hotspots

It's a good theory but I honestly think he's off to the NRL. I think the new NRL cash came a bit late for Ea$tmond and the other Tomkins or they'd have been over in Aus too. All the excuses about International RU being great and a big draw are fine but would have meant very little without the significant amount of cash that went with them.

I saw something that said Logan was going to Auckland as well perhaps as a sweetener, a la Burgess brothers. I can't see ratboy junior having the same impact as George and Tom Burgess who are both tearing it up there. I totally agree with the other code being the enemy and not the nrl, at least if they go down under they stay in rugby league.

Not really d where he goes, worst kept secret that he is leaving the Wigan club. If its the NRL then good on him and if its the RFU then good on him.

Will be a loss to SL yes and will be a loss for England if he goes to Union but there'll be another.

Rumour is that Joel is coming back to League with Wigan. I can see it now, a season or two at the Goons, put himself back in the shop window and then hop on a flight down under for mega bucks now that their salary cap make RU look small time. Is it too obvious???? SBW was strung up for less.

I can't wait to see Minnichiello rip up SL.........

Auckland to have all the Tomkinses like SS collected the Burgesses?

As you know Minichello won't come to SL and won't rip it up.
I think there's a far better chance of Ryan Hampshire ripping it up given a couple of years.

There's an even better chance Hampshire will be in yawnion or the NRL.

It can't be long before Josh Charnley leaves for the NRL. Very, very short odds so I've been told.

or Wigan to have all three Tomkins next year?? Its what is being banded around at the moment.

But not to worry I'm sure wigan will put a clause (lol) in his contract that will give them first option for when he's over 30 and wants to come back. They may also use the announcement to share the positive news that they managed to sign Shane Williams as his replacement

I can see them offering stupid money for him to stay. I mean, they're screwed without him.

Just going back to the player drain to the NRL.
If, in a couple of years, the majority of the England team is made up of guys -laying in the NRL, do you think people would become more or less excited about an England fixture?
Would the fact that the majority of the stars are a little removed, so we don't see them every week and, to a degree, have the SL club ties erased mean we'd be more excited by the chance to see them play?

A good question , if that is the case I'd expect there to be more interest from fans in Aus and the risk would be for more internationals to be played over there. It could go either way interest wise , for me the big risk would be aus poaching our players to play for them like they do with NZ

Mmm, Interesting.

Some have mentioned the possibility of creating an international weekend.
When the SOO is on, England (now full of NRL based players) play NZ. You could play that in Auckland/Wellington.
Assuming it was well received, this would aid both England and NZ in retaining their players in the face of SOO.