I don't think Gasnier got it right at all, it was a typical Ausie comment assuming that the NRL is the only league that creates good players.

Tomkins is getting more accustomed to the style of play in the NRL and as such is using his talents to play better. Whether or not he's becoming a better player than he was in the SL is debatable, the two competitions have different styles of play.

Tomkins is fourth for tackle busts this year. He's shone in some games, seemed unwilling to really get stuck in during others I think. I reckon he will be really good next year too.

Cooper has established himself in a Dragons side that is improving and Widdop is really well regarded. I would expect him to be England's #6 this year.

There is not yet a full English team. There only 9 players. Not enough backs.

As of 2015 it should be the following:


FB: Sam Tomkins

CE: Jack Reed

FE: Gareth Widdop

LF:
SR:
PR: James Graham, Mike Cooper, George Burgess, Tom Burgess, Luke Burgess
HK: Josh Hodgson

...and Lee Mossop I presume

And Lee Mossop indeed. I forgot about him because he hasn't been playing. Has he been injured?

He was injured until about round 13 or something, played a handful of games and then got injured again - he's out for the rest of the season.

Have a look in the second grade, you may find a few there who aren't half bad.

Watching sam burgess week in week out, it's a complete traversty he's off to the dark side. The best and mostconsistent forward in the nrl, and more importantly getting better and approaching his prime, he will be a massive loss for south's and England. Just ask issac Luke who has a field day playing behind some of his charges and quick ptbs. (The burgess/Luke combo is a thing of beauty). Outstanding against manly, he seems to get better the bigger the game. On current form south's could well give him a send off in the biggest game come the seasons end.

Just wish league could keep hold of its best players when they are in their prime

Awful that he is leaving League. He should be staying in league and confirming himself as the world's best forward, not taking the money in Union where he will be so bored

If he wants to go let him.
He is massively ego driven, he is one player that I would lock out of returning to the game to place a marker to others that want the benefits of Rugby League then jump Ship.
He has had every opportunity in our game and every door has been opened to him and he still feels the need to abandon the game that built him.
If we accept the code jumpers back so easily it sends the wrong message, let them go and stay there.

Problem is it is the best players that jump ship - SBW being a case, Harmichael, Israel Folau - are you saying you would not allow an of these players into RL?

Yes.
Hunt was average as a Rep player and picked for Rep games beyond his ability.
Folau is a mercenary pure and simple.
$BW set out his stall in how he left the Bulldogs.

Sometimes you have to draw a line in the Sand and stick to your Guns.

The game is bigger than the player and if some that chase the money or "big stage" want to do that they can, but perhaps if Rugby League did not welcome them back less would take the option to leave.

wow! that's amazing, you're advocating banning players from league if they go to play union - talk about going full circle from the pre professional union days!!

I'm not advocating banning them - what I am advocating is not treating them like the messiah if/when they return, or congratulate them in RL media on leaving the game.

I think the Burgess clan were genuinely amazed to see that RL fans were not appladuing him for jumping ship, partly because of the ridiculous treatment of SBW last year on Channel 9. Similarly Andrew Fifita got a lot of stick when suggesting he might go to RU. Hopefully these highly paid RL players will at least understand that whilst its OK for them to go to RU to seek money or glory or whatever, that doesn't mean RL fans have to like it.

Its also why I sincerely hope Souths don't win the comp this year - Burgess can then go without having won a single thing in RL, either in England or Aus.

Samuel Levi Tomkins had another good game this last weekend for NZ Warriors. He didn't score a try and was not flashy. But his defence was good, his fielding of the high ball was good, and he did a lot of good things in attack. He was playing in a team that missed its stars Shaun Johnson and Konrad Hurrell, so he lacked some of the opportunities in attack that would have arisen had these two been playing.

Good under the high ball? He is one of only 30 people on the planet who can call himself a first choice top grade RL full back. Being able to catch a rugby ball when it's kicked in your general direction should be like an accountant being able to count to 10........a basic requirement for the role!

We get it you don't like Sam Tomkins, but he still had a good game and his defence was much improved (it did need to be, to be fair).

You should be an Aussie. That way, you could blame even more people for your hard luck life.
Oh, I forgot, they've almost got over it.
And one wonders why some from the lesser code treat RL with disdain.

Spoken like a typical twelve year old. Or, by making that assumed comparison, am I being spiteful to most twelve year olds?

Thanks for your input Lovesauce


I don't care what you think or what your thoughts are to be honest.

There is nothing you can post that I could take seriously.

Really, you have this much of a problem with a guy wanting to make the most of his very short playing career, where it can be over at any point due to injury. Sure I'd prefer Sam in RL, which RL fan wouldn't but I'm not going to throw the toys out of the pram because of his choice to move codes. Lets be honesst our sport isn't big enough to stop players coming back if they want.

Whether he's moving because he wants to play for England RU, which is a big draw due to their international scene or simply earning extra money, it's so easy to rip into a guy when your not in his shoes. Lets face it, if you were ever in the position where someone's chucking big money at you and offering you a new experience, who's to say what you'd do.

Imo Sam doesn't owe anything to anyone, the dude's put his body on the line every minute he's been on a field. He's got to where he is because of the player he is not because of any doors that have been opened for him.

lovesauce - I'm pretty certain the views of RL fans make absolutely no difference to fans of other sports when it comes to RL. They look down on RL for a lot of reasons, many to do with socio-economic stereotypes, both in Australia and England.

Talking of stereotypes, what's with the Australia one? You've clearly never even been here.

That is your opinion and you are entitled to it.

I have seen plenty of players that have been supported by the local community as youngsters and encouraged through the ranks to be Coached and trained by the best people involved in the game.
Sure a player like Burgess has talent but the game has helped build that talent and invested in him, Russell Crowe took a big chance and "opened a door for him" when he signed a player on a massive contract that was not the finished product and had a history of injuries.

I actually follow both codes to some extent, union a lot less but I do not have any gripe with the game.
I do think its not a good plan to have the best League players abandon the game that built them to try their hand in another game and if it fails and they don't cut it they are welcomed back with open arms and big contracts.

Should Rugby League be a safety net and are we sending the right message by taking failures back to our game.

I know plenty of businesses that train and educate their staff and if they are poached by a competing company they never welcome them back.

"Like" had nothing to do with it. I just believe NZ Warriors could have spent the cash he's on elsewhere.......he's a luxury we didn't need.

Tom Burgess was outstanding for South Sydney this morning! With every game he looks to be catching up with George in terms of his footwork, ball retention and yardage.

Sam was also outstanding again, what a loss he is to the game. I'd love it if he turned around and said he'd changed his mind!