This will be picked on as sour grapes but it really isn't meant that way. Let's get things straight he's a top player and is one of the best in Superleague. A front runner for man of steel, will likely be picked at Full back in the team of the season and will be one of the first names on the team sheet for the England team in the Four Nations. I would love him at Bradford and was class tonight. But please can we get a grip. The way Stevo, hemmings and Clarke go on about him you'd think he's the best player that ever played the game. In fact Stevo came close to saying that tonight. They even at one point seriously discussed him being the best player that Wigan have ever had and came up with the unbelievable suggestion that he is only just pipped to that crown by Ellery Hanley! Bill Arthur couldn't wait to tell him during his @rse kissing season after the final hooter. I wonder what Edwards and the rest think of this when they're polishing all them winners medals?

The pie eaters are understably jizzing over him [urlhttp://viewtopic.php?f=28&t=505281[/url that's to be expected but when supposedly professional commentaters on the country's premier sattelite sports broadcaster come out with these ridiculous comments - Stevo made a sound like he was opening fornicating in the sky box on one the many occasions that he went through the Bradford defence like a hot knife through butter - it really becomes cringe worthy.

He is one of the best in Superleague he is not one of the all time greats. That's not to say he won't be but I really doubt it. Wigan used to have players that were amongst the best in the world but today's Superleague isn't the environment for the best players in the world. This was proved in the World Club Challenge when Sky's favourites were outclassed. It'll be the same in the Four Nations this Autumn. Clarke compared Tomkins to Billy Slater but subject to the fitness of both players I think the next international series will prove just how laughable that is.

It's not just him though the way the Sky team talk about this Wigan side is vomit inducing. With Hemmings suggesting to McCrae at half time that the reason Wigan were only 6 points in front was down to the fact that they didn't want to defend their line so much because of the Challenge Cup final next week. How funny would it be if they finished the year trophyless now? For no other reason than the comments that Stevo and Eddie etc. would have to make at Old Trafford in October. Every coach with a team in the top eight should play some of tonights commentary to their players as a motivational tool.

Thought it was Mcrae that compared him to Slater?

Clarke started it by saying something like "I wouldn't want to compare him to Slater" then McCrae started talking about what top full backs like Slater and Tomkins do.

Fantastic player for Super League level. But Super League is far far far from the calibre of NRL. The Aussies and Kiwis will give him far less space with the ball in hand and i can see him and the rest of England's 'stars' being embarrassed.

Plus his Defence isn't all that. But still he is a fantastic talent.

Love to see Tomkins try do a full length agaisnt the Aussies.

Come on Bradford fans - you're better than this. The boy is a genius. A freak. The best player in Super League, the best back in Super League and he's British!

If he keeps this form/improvement/performances up then he will go down as a Wigan legend and will be discussed amongst the Andy Farrell's Sean Edwards', Ellery Hanley's etc etc. That is the point Phil Clarke was trying to make.

Against the Aussies - sure that's the ultimate test. That's the highest level for the lad to perform. He's done it in Super League. He's done it in the Challenge Cup. He's done it in the Grand Final. Internationally is the next stage for him to shine. Sam Tomkins has a lot of quality players around him in the Wigan setup who are very well coached. He will have quality players around him when he plays for England, but are they as well coached? No. However point taken - the lad has so much to prove/offer on the international stage.

Someday I would love him to go to the NRL. It think he is the best back England have had to offer in a very long time. I think when his contract runs out he will. Even as a Wigan fan, I hope he does.

From 1997 to 2008 Brett Hodgson played 224 NRL matches scoring 92 tries, plus 6 appearances for NSW. Is Brett Hodgson THAT good that he can hold his own (and more) yet Sam would struggle? C'mon fella, he would thrive on it. Think you are a bit harsh there.
In addition, with regards to his defence...nine times out of ten he spot on, bringing down players well above his weight.

Lastly, it seems he perhaps has cut out the rolling around / holding down tactics which saw him villified by all and sundry on these forums. It seems to have improved his game too.

The best young british player in the super league era without doubt.

The boy is a freak. He would look at home playing in the NRL every week. He is too good for super league.

At the end of the day he is helped out a lot by your team who give him free reign to play his own style of Rugby. It would be good to see him go down under though as i wish more Super League stars would, just like i shall always wonder why Jamie Peacock never proved himself in NRL when he could have bossed it. He still needs to improve though to by NRL star quality just saying.

Sky used to call Paul Wellens world class and the the best full back in the world but he was never as good as Kris Radlinski, and never will be.

As for Sam, he is a freak. He can be as good as he wants to be, and all the critiscm he takes and all the 'Sam you cheating ' shouts he gets, it just spurs him on even more so long may it continue.

And I have no doubt he would more than hold his own in the NRL.

He is a very talented player, no doubt. But does he need to goad players when he's on his way to scoring a try?
It's disrespectful to his fellow sportsmen and there's absolutely no need for it.

Neither are as good as Michael Withers. FACT

Micheal withers lol sprogger was better than him great fullbacks.Sam tompkins is amazing,Say what u want now mate, but my point will be proven over the next five years when no 1 can say he wasnt as good as such and such,give me a break it would be like me saying alan tait was better than the lot like u have.And im a widnes fan.Good luck sam give it to the aussies and slater when we play em !!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Both better than Withers.

Tomkins is a top player. Personally he needs to prove himself for England to be really classed as anything near as good as what most wigan fans think. Unfortunately English backs haven't really worked out at international level. But surely if he's that good he will do.

We had a freak called Sam Burgess. At least he went to really prove himself.

Lesley Vainikolo..........BOOM

Sam Tomkins would Rip the nrl up no doubt maybe not as much as super league,And defence isnt as good as slater but make no bones about it he is as good as slater and only time will prove this and id say this to the doubters you will be not saying the same in 3 to 5 years when he is a legend !!!!!!!!!!!! ps is he made of elastic what a dream to watch play from a widnes fan,my guess is wigan will let him go 4 years into his contract to shut the world up about how he cant cut it in the nrl beacause he will !!!!!

Lesley Vainikolo on 1 wing and offiah on the other now that would have been be a force

.ps did u rate stuart spruce as fullback ?

Yeah but can he chip the ball over Iestyn Harris' head in a challenge cup final and score like Nathan McAvoy? i think not.

I think to compare him now to the likes of Slater is an insult to Slater. He's been the best fullback in the world for years. Tomkins hasn't even reached the height of anything like that yet. It's not tomkins doing the talking so it's maybe a little unfair to play down his ability.

And Spruce read the game well but was a little slow to be classed as a real quality fullback. Was a massive player for the bulls mind when he came. And Vainikolo was the best winger in SL era. No one touches him on that one.

I heard Sam walks like John Wayne after being bummed so much by Sky Sports

I revel in his play, awesome to watch with an almost complete range of talents.
He dares anything and sees no boundaries, with the rarest talent that everything he does is instinctive.
If this is an example of what SL can provide from young players then we are in good shape.
Comparison with Billy Slater is probably an honor, but I suspect Sam thinks differently. Whist a short way off completion, that completion will eclipse any living full back.

Wrong if ur good enough you are good enough you dont need to have to be good for years, sam is good enough and i bet billy has heard of sam no doubt,billy deserves respect but no way is it an insult,If anything its a compliment because sam is so good even billy slater would be impressed.Any way only time will tell but hes defo the best player in our super league and hes english yeahhhhhhh

Well said i think time will tell if he will become the worlds number 1 fullback,and on that note im a widnes fan and watch out for a young man named danny hulme good up and coming british youngster,Davids lad

Only after bumming your team to death lol