Ask all these critics of IFL who they would go and get?
Ask them how have other clubs gone about getting Marquee players that the NRL were queuing up to sign with 3 x times the budget and SOO jumpers and Test jumpers at stake if the do leave. Have any other clubs got then to sign over here?

Another BS reason to have a pop at the club, with no realistic and cohesive argument as to what should be done all the while your lucky if half of them can be bothered getting off their backside and parting with £20 a fortnight for 6months of the year.

Well we were winning them then, but those people that left haven't come back yet. Start to win games and they will.

I’m all honesty he is far from back to his best though, he’s not been the same player since he returned from the NRL and on reflection I don’t think he chose the right club to join when he left Wigan.

That’s not to say he is not playing very well and is not a very good SL player but the pace that made him so dangerous is not quite what it was.

I wouldn’t have him over Bevan French at FB and I wouldn’t have him over Hastings, no doubt both these players will be wanted by NRL clubs very soon, I’m not sure they would want Sam,

I definitely wouldn’t have Sam over French at this current time, French is very similar to what Sam was 2011-2013 and could ultimately be better, the only spot Sam could have in this team is at 7 but I’m very excited to see how Harry Smith develops and the signs are very good so far, Tomkins is however still pure class and certainly the best English fullback in the world atm.

French is going well but it’s a fair push to say it’s similar or could be better than what Tomkins was producing around 2011-2013 IMO. That spell of about 3 seasons was just pure class, he was almost unplayable and regularly racked up 20+ try’s and 20+ assists in a season. Just looking on the superleague site, he got 78 try’s and 72 assists in those 3 seasons which is unbelievable. That’s 150 try contributions in approximately 90 games. To compare that to Hastings last year, he got 8 try’s and 36 assists and that was in a man of steel season. If he kept that up over 3 seasons he still wouldn’t hit that level Tomkins reached. If French could get anywhere near that level he’ll be doing well and so will the side, so fingers crossed.

The biggest travesty of that spell was the lack of Man of steel awards for Tomkins.

If only he would have chosen a better NRL team

Yeah I agree with all of that tbf and I hadn’t realised just how high those stats were for Sam which are ridiculous in that many games, he’s probably the most exciting individual player I’ve ever watched in them 3 seasons (not the best) however I’ve got really high hopes for Bevan and although he won’t match those stats of Sams, he’s playing in a far weaker team and is a massive joy to watch at fullback, im just glad the debate of him and Zak has been put to bed

Fully agree. It’s not to bag French when I say I wouldn’t compare but just to highlight how special Tomkins was in his absolute pomp. There may have been a few better players for Wigan in the grand scheme of things but I doubt there’s been many, if any who’ve had 3 or 4 seasons on the trot at that level. He was just crucifying teams with his pace and change of direction.

French is going to have a big year without any doubt. I think you can tell he’s still brushing up on playing the position and that’s a great prospect because he’s started well but has more to give IMO.

For those first three seasons in my opinion Sam Tomkins is the 2nd best Wigan player I've ever seen since I started supporting them in 1982. (Hanley being 1st).

Sam Tomkins in 2012 must still give some teams and their supporters nightmares. It’s amazing to think we only won the hubcap because in the weekly rounds we were on fire and Tomkins was insane. The magic performance against Saints, the try and celebration in front of the Saints fans at Langtree Park and the away game at Leeds will live longer in the memory.

Brett Finch brain fart

Agreed, my best since I started watching in 2001. Teams just couldn't deal with him at all.

Why are people mentioning french in the same breath as Tomkins?

Same reason they mention French in same breath as Bowen?

Why are you bothered?

Maybe the question is "What language does Tomkins speak when he pops to the shops?"

Wigan pie language, or babies yead chips and peas.

Because they are both outstanding players!

I only wish Sam was still at Wigan along withe French>

If Sam would have stayed we would have never signed French or Hastings. Personally I thought Sam was coming to the time where he’d need to be put back into the halves at Wigan and all though he is playing well for Catalans I’d argue French is the better fullback.

Swings and roundabouts for me. My preference was always Sam to stay but he’s gone and as I look at it and see French/Hastings in our team I can’t help but think maybe we came out better off.