Take a bow.

I hate the little ginger Wigoon scro$e with a passion but he was outstanding today. With McGuire withering like a sunflower in autumn he stood up and was superb. I loved it when he squared up to Hodges, giving away about 3 feet and 150lbs but he'd have still given him a go.

Tomkins played ell in the second half when we were on top but did nothing in the first half, halfbacks can only play when the forwards are fronting up.

WEll, once the second half started he was good...but then so were the rest of the backs.

McGuire wasn't.

No he wasnt Mcguire had a shocker, he wont be the first and last English halfback to do that neither.

When he started to get some ball he looked very dangerous. Eastmond had a good go too but McGuire was poor.

Well I'm glad a couple of side steps and a fantastic effort from Gareth Ellis against an Aussie side in the 2nd half who quite clearly weren't interested has brought such a response. Shame that when it mattered in the first half Tomkins was getting dragged around the field like a rag doll





Poor lad has the weight of expectation on him now. I think I can predict how this one will end!

No half back can play to his full potential behind a beaten pack - even Aussies. Give the ginger one enough time and games, and then judge him.
His clever kicks in the second half were a vast improvement on the pointless kicking in the first half.
Unfortunately, Maguires performance didn't improve and he should be replaced by Eastmond or Myler.

Tomkins was fantastic in the second half. Glad he got the nod over that overated nobody at Warrington

He's not even ginger

Agreed. I like Tomkins' style. For me the most talented young half-back to come out of the English game since Bobby Goulding. Hopefully he won't have the same self-destructive tendencies.

Tomkins didn't get one decent pass in the first half and when he started to get some ball he showed what he's made of in attack. His defence was exceptional in both halfs which comes as no suprise as he's been like that all year.

He's the sort of player that you hate when he's playing against you because as people always say he's a niggling little git and annoying but when he's on your side you can't help but love his passion. He wants to win any game as much as any supporter and he really puts his all in. He'll take anyone on and won't back down.

He'll be better for the run out next week aswell.

Not much to change in the pack, not convinced Roby is it at hooker, but neither is Moore unless he finds his mid season form again, the forwards as a set played well I think, Burgess and Crabtree definately shook things up when they came on too, totally different styles, both equally effective.

I think I would love to see Tomkins and Eastwood together in the halves.

other than that...

Can someone remind me, wasnt it Smith in the World cup that was forever 15 meters away from his wing watching the opposition score?

Against the Kiwi's?

It was Sykes for 2 or 3 of Vatuvai's trys after replacing possibly Smith(but i'm not too sure).

Hopefully he won't get booed next week, when his name gets read out on the team sheet

Tomkins was magnificent and it was a joy to watch him.

It'll be the first and ONLY time I sit in the South Stand at Wigan shouting "GO ON SAMMMMM!!!"

Embarrassing wasn't it.

We had about 20 Leythers at the back of us booing him throughout the game..............................as though a Wigan player makes any difference to their lives

The feeling is somewhat reciprocated - My lad said to me - "I don't think I'll ever be as proud to cheer Graham on!"

I think people are getting a little carried away, he went OK when we were on top.

Isn't it wierd how our strongest positions go suddenly to being weak. Remember when there was a genuine strong argument about hooker : Cunningham, Lowes, Newton, all staking a claim. Now it's Moore, who I've never seen do much more than be solid, or Roby, whose whole game appears to have vanished with the end of fast PTBs.

Yet after ten years of drought at half-back, we suddenly seem to have at least three genuine contenders who look as if they might become something special, and that's ignoring Burrow who was unlucky to miss out on the squad I thought.

and tackled like a demented jack russell when we weren't unlike his more experienced halfback partner who was cack when we were on the backfoot, cack when we were on the frontfoot and worse then cack in defence.

Mcguire having a bad game has nothing to do with it, Tomkins played OK in the second half, no more no less, reading comments on here you would think he had just put in an amazing performance, he didnt.

Good point.

The hooking position has fallen apart in these past couple of years. I'm not a huge fan of Diskin but he'd look the best starting option at the moment if he were in the squad.

It was a pretty good effort from a 20 year old rookie in his first compepative international i thought especially given he saw no ball in the first half.

Can't half tell your a Leeds fan, near enough every fan in the ground cheered when McGuire came off I think that will tell you something.