Tomkins has without a doubt the ability to become an outstanding player like Slater if not even better in time.

Let me get one thing straight (and I am not suggesting either player is better here)

So people are suggesting slater is better because he has done it for Melbourne (the best nrl side for the past 5 years), Queensland (a by far better side over the past 6 years than NSW) and Australia (the best international team)

Yet the same people argue that McILorum cannot be classed as good as roby because McIlorum is playing in the best team in his competition.

I have no doubt that you put Tomkins in the melbourne, Queensland and Aus teams and he will be a much better player because those teams are dominant in aus.

All I am stating here is that people need to get their arguments straight, if you can call slater so much better (despite playing week in week out with some of the greatest players the world has ever seen) then why can't you state McIlorum is at a similar level to Roby despite playing in the best team in SL?

Slater > Inglis > B Stewart > Barba > Tomkins

I'd also be tempted to include Barba on that list.

It is a pleasure to watch sam tomkins play rugby league week in, week out. For me he is better than slater, he is nothing short of outstanding in attack and his defence is constantly improving. I think people are forgetting sam tomkins has been playing full back for about 2 years! For us to be even comparing him with billy slater just shows what a remarkable rugby league player he is.

On the international arguement, sam has been very good on this stage aswell. I remember his international debut at wigan when there was only him and kyle eastmond who put a bit of spark into england. I'd also like to point out how he performed against the kiwis and also the aussies at wembley, he made the initial break to put reed away resulting in halls try and he threw a lovely little flick pass for one of our trys in the second half. In the final he played behind a battered pack, any full back would struggle for space in a game like that.

Tomkins has the potential to be one of the great english rugby league players and I think the respect that the one and only billy boston paid to him on super league super men last week was praise of the highest order.

rather have paul wellens then either of these two

There's no real answer at the end of the day.

Slater is at the peak of his powers playing in the best club side in the best league in the world, he plays for the best international side and probably the best origin side ever. He's unlikely to improve but then if he does, good jesus he'll be on another planet.

Tomkins is an unbelievable talent who' the right side of 25 playing in a terrific Wigan side but in an international side that looks incapable of challenging the Australians. I'd say unlike Slater there's room for improvements and if he does make those then he 'could' become a player of even greater quality then Slater but then he'd need to prove himself in the NRL to convince people of this.

One thing I would say is swap Slater and Tomkins around and I don't think Melbourne, Australia or Queensland would be damaged too much if at all. I also don't think Slater could produce more for Wigan then Tomkins does and in a beaten England side I don't think he'd be the missing link to overtake the Australians.

Will be good to compare when Sam is at Souths after next year.

Many are saying Slater is the best fb who's ever lived, he could easily be an immortal.

Slater. Tomkins is great but not Slater great. It would be great to see Tomkins and Slater swap teams for a season.

Slater has the runs on the board over many years at top level.
He has made some mistakes true, but his positives far outweigh any negatives in the way he plays the game.

To compare them at Test level (the closest comparison available)
Tomkins has 5 from 10, 4 against Wales and 1 against the Kiwis.
Slater has 18 from 18, 5 against the Kiwis, 3 against Fiji, 1 against PNG and 9 against England.

Slater played his first Test in May 2008
Tomkins played his first Test Oct 2009

Really !

Wellens at his peak was a great defensive fb and came into the line really well but, imo he is not (even in his dreams) capable of some of the stuff that Slater has done.
Btw, Tomkins is very good but nowhere near Slater, great player though and worth paying to watch.

I don't think test levels a fair comparison tbh.
Im not buying into all the hype and I don't think Slaters super human either but I definately agree with the opinion that Tomkins has the POTENTIAL to be a very, very good player and should move to the NRL, he'd genuinely be a superstar whichever position he plays (as obviously he's only played fullback for 2 seasons). He could well end up back at 6 for Wigan but at FB he attacks so well. IMO weak under the bomb (to an extent, defensively he looks heroic compared to Uate tbh) or not i'd rather have him than Stewart tomorrow tbh

Tomkins is a very good player.
I doubt any NRL Clubs would use him as a Fullback, he would be groomed as a Halfback or 5/8th.

5/8th is his natural position anyway, it was Maguire who identified him as a potential fullback and after having Leuleui and Finch at halves it was a way of getting him into the attacking line. But no, he'd go well in the NRL as would a few others, i'd like to see them go and I think a lot will over the coming years which is why the increased British production line over recent years needs to continue improving so we can replace these players in our game.

Who's the better full back? Slater
Who's the more creative player? Tomkins

edited for accuracy

In my opinion.....Slater is stronger and as such more likely to break a defence. He is also better in defence. Slater is good at support play and returns a ball at real pace.

Tomkins is capable of all the above, however isn't the finished article...he needs to add some bulk so he isn't manhandled in defence. However, Tomkins is by far the more creative of the two...he is more able to create a gap and make a defence look foolish...whereas Slater is better at being put through a gap and holding off a tackle.

Tomkins in 5 years will be better than Slater is now in my opinion.....but agree...he needs to go to the NRL to really become a superstar.

You're joking, right?

WTH game was you watching? Slater was playing on one leg and was still awesome in a losing team. He made 1 mistake that I remember when he slipped running back for the ball and went into touch. His ability to take impossible balls at full speed is something Tomkins is a long way off being able to do consistently yet. Dont get me wrong either btw, Tomkins is by far the best player in the SL but Slater is still a long way ahead of him.

I think some are really underrating Slater here. I don't buy the argument that he isn't a creative full back, he's very good at coming into the line and creating tries for his outside backs.

You have to also remember that a huge chunk of the Melbourne left the club after the salary cap infringement, most other teams would've gone into decline, but because Melbourne managed to keep the likes of Slater and Cam Smith they maintained their success. Melbourne are one of the best teams in the world because of the likes of Slater. Slater isn't a great player because he plays for Melbourne.

no i am not do you actually watch nrl or are you basing this on the origin game yesterday where for 70 minutes of the game he was playing on one leg (now out for 8 weeks btw) and still did the most damage for queensland

Absolutely spot on.

There is plenty of fan rivalry in the NRL but Slaters talents and ability are pretty well respected by all that follow the game in Oz regardless of Club loyalty