That's just your opinion, don't try and recruit "a lot of Warriors fans" to validate what you think!

I think you're wrong!

Yes. He is absolutely awful. We're sorry for inflicting him on you. Please send him back. I'm certain that no other SL club would want such an embarrassment. I reckon we could help out there.

And you with your ratbag opinions of Matulino, Hurrell, Johnson et al are in a minority of one.

i just hope that they don't want a proper full back like zak hardaker to take his place and show him how it should be done

A simple way of putting the whole Tompkins situation is that.

A.Super League is a LOT lower level to the NRL
B. Tomkins isn't Really a PROPER fullback, he's a halfback who's brilliant at running at defences while in space, he simply won't get that in the NRL as they are a level above.
c . Kevin Locke was a brilliant fullback for the warriors, and he has a lot to justify taking his place in the team, he's not doing himself any favours what so ever and a lot of the NZ and aussie press don't believe he's worthy of the full back spot.

basically if Locke hadn't had issues with the warriors Coach Tomkins would have been dropped by now, but the coach now has to stick to his guns to save face.

Saying that Sam could always come back to super dooper league play against far weaker teams and pretend he's one of the best in the world, but hey as long as he gets buy one get one free in revs in Wigan he's done good.

Isnt it Samuel Levi Tomkins anyway? Maybe Brian Smith is right about this Samuel Eli Tomkins?

For his first season I don't think he is doing that bad, and I have seen all the games. He will only improve and don't forget the game is far more intense over there. I don't think being stood up by Ben Barba is a career ending occurence otherwise half the NRL would be packing it in. If this time next year you can say he is not cutting then fair enough. As for the aussie media, they are as bad as any media, bad news sells.

That's just pathetic Capdouze!

Why did I expect any better!

I'd tend to agree with Tomkins sympathisers with respect to his attacking play.

The Warriors halfbacks have individually benefited from having him in the team, but they have been really poor at making the best use of him for the team as a whole - they've been better at running him out of space, or simply not passing to him at all than they have in regularly making use of him on the fringes. We've seen glimpses of what he can do with the ball, and some of his play really is top drawer, but not enough. However, this is partly because of the way he's being used.

However, the main problem is that Tomkins is simply not a quality fullback in defence. His defensive efforts on high kicks and reading the play and getting himself in position in the defensive line are not up to scratch on a consistent basis. Either the Warriors live with those faults, or he'll need to improve dramatically or move into the halves where he won't be exposed in quite the same way.

Frankly you cannot get away at the top end of the NRL with such inconsistent (and sometimes downright awful) defence. When I've pointed out before that top NRL fullbacks are great attacking players, its not at the expense of being solid in defence - Slater is generally superb, Inglis pulls off some amazing saves, Hayne is great - the list goes on. They do make errors - sometimes very costly - but not at the rate Tomkins does, and they will generally offset that by making massive defensive plays later.

It also gets shown up for England against Australia - we just can't afford to give away tries for nothing against them, but I've yet to be convinced that under pressure Tomkins isn't highly likely to give away one or two soft tries. If Sinfield isn't picked I'd go with Tomins and Widdopp in the halves and Hardaker at fullback.

BTW, it is much easier for forwards to make the transition to the NRL - it should be as their job is much simpler.

Because you only expect the best from me, and you have a right to such expectations.

Good post.

I must have missed a couple of pathetic attempted tackles by Jarryd Hayne at Melbourne yesterday - particularly on Hinchcliffe for the Norrie try. Also, how he somehow managed to fumble the ball backwards 15m and then dead despite no-one being within 30m of him.

But, of course, he is a superstar and beyond criticism. Tomkins is fine. A bit low on confidence but trying his heart out. He has shown moments of brilliance and it will come good for him for sure.

My feelings too.I expect him to have a much better second half to the season and with a good pre season be a real star next year. Because he is a pom going over with a big rep. and on the big bucks he was always going to be big time under the micro scope, hell he was being written off on here after his first couple of games when the Warriors were awful as a team but because Sam couldn't step up and win it all on his own he is a flop! since then he has done some nice things on attack and yes his defence needs to improve but im backing him to get it right.

His defense needs to improve?
He is 25 years old, hardly a Rookie, he either has the defensive skills or he doesn't, its unlikely his defensive awareness or tackling skills will improve with a couple of one on ones with the Coach.
He should be in his prime years right now, isn't he the best of a generation?

Remember this guy was a half-back who was moved to full back by Michael Maguire. He is not the most assured in that position but gets by through quick thinking. For England as much as anyone, I would like to see him play at 6. His handling game should be used much more by the Warriors. I think the biggest problem is that Townsend is not a great player and Johnson really struggles sticking with any structured game plans.

I hope it does come good.

All players make mistakes like Hayne, Inglis, Slater and Tomkins.

Its just that the first three have done so much at the highest level on a consistent basis that the occasional mistake is overlooked on the balance sheet.

Tomkins has to get several more ticks and a fair few less crosses before he gets the latitude by the critics in the NRL.

But he has played more games at Fullback than he has played as a Stand Off.
His game as attacking Fullback does not cut it in the NRL IMO, without the balance of good defensive field position and a solid defensive game and tackling technique he will be targeted by runners and kicks.

He may well improve some facets of his game but he also may get looked at by opposition Coaches in a different way and rather than them thinking about countering what he may offer in attack they focus on what they think they can target in his defensive frailties.

www.leaguefreak.com/sam-tomkins- ... o-do-7647/ Think this is a balanced, informed critque of Sam's progress so far in the NRL. It's a shame the way some are always ready to put down anyone striving for excellence. Seems the jealousy and bile that led to Sam Tomkins getting booed whilst playing for his country is alive and well.

www.leaguefreak.com/sam-tomkins- ... o-do-7647/ Think this is a balanced, informed critque of Sam's progress so far in the NRL. It's a shame the way some are always ready to put down anyone striving for excellence. Seems the jealousy and bile that led to Sam Tomkins getting booed whilst playing for his country is alive and well.

Quoting LeagueFreak is a first.

The question is why was he booed by English fans? the answer is out there and not hard to find.

I hope he gets better, he is adjusting to being a highly paid medium sized Fish in a big Pond.

Just as he was in the world cup, he is woefully out of his depth in the NRL.

Regards

King James

It just proves what a lot of us having been saying for years about Tomkins. Massively over-rated, equally capable of moments of brilliance and ineptitude.

This is why England can't beat Australia, our best and most hyped backs are in reality average NRL players.

I don't think many British backs have been hyped as being as good as or better than their Aussie counterparts. Hall maybe, but that's mainly from his performances vs Aus rather than his week-to-week games.

Tomkins' struggles clearly show that there is a gap between NRL and SL, but anyone who thought otherwise is clearly blind. As is anyone who dismisses some of Tomkin' performances for Wigan as being down to solely playing in an inferior competition. I'd also bet that if he were at the Roosters we'd be hearing a lot less about how bad his defence is, and a lot more about how good he is in attack.

Think he showed just that over the weekend.
The Wigan Wizard Vossy called him and the way he avoided tacklers was pure magic.

when spomeone like leagueFreak states

"I see this as the making of Sam Tomkins. I have a feeling that when he turns up to play for England at the end of the year he will be a different player and a different person. I think he will be a leader and a real asset to the England squad.
It is great to see a player like Tomkins in the NRL who is striving to be the best player he can be. Lets hope more English players take up that challenge in the future."

thats real praise from someone who isnt shy to belittle the SL and its players.

why are people so bitter about a player working hard to better themselves, and show that they have the character to be able to shine in a new environment, when they were quite capable of enjoying the limelight in "the small pond" that is SL.

Oh good lord



He played very well last weekend, hope he kicks on and carries that form through to the 4N.