I thought Tomkins had a really strong running game. Much more forceful than last season. Looks like a lot of hard work has been put in close season. Very impressive start.

Yeah we've all collectively agreed.... [url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=777=#FF0000wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=777[/url

He looks like the guy out of Glee.

Some people aren't a big fan of the stats on the superleague site but if you take a look at Joel Tomkins from Friday night they tell the story of a guy who had a massive game. He made huge metres, bust tackles, offloaded, had a try assist and got through 35+ tackles without missing any.

He had a storming game and it was hopefully a sign of things to come.

Hopefully this is the season where Joel steps up to the plate. He has the ability for sure to be one of the best attacking back rowers in the game. The new coach and regime may be the best thing to happen to him this year. If he carries on like Friday night an England call up may be in the future.

Guys like Tomkins, Mossop and Harrison at Wire are going to be pushing for places in that 4 Nations side at the end of this season if they carry on as they've started this season.

As per usual we look a nation capable of producing top quality forwards but we need some outside backs.

Think Tomkins suffered the "2nd season syndrome" effect last year after doing so well in his first proper season. He was outstanding on Friday and was my MoM by a mile. He's got a real chance now Hock is out to be that devastating runner out wide we've lacked since the failed drug test.

Hall
Shenton
Ainscough
Riley
Owen
Watkins
Goulding

All good players, but they don't really convince me that they will ever compete with the aussies.

Thats it, they're good players but like you say can these guys really cause the Australians enough problems to get enough points on the board to beat them? I very much doubt it.

We may have to make some big calls in the Four Nations and go down the route of playing somebody like Eastmond at fullback and bringing guys like Gleeson, Pryce(never a stand off though) and maybe even Senior back in.

If he stays fit he will be a monster for us this season looks like he has got bigger since last season, League Express gave him MOM for Sundays game.

Joel was the only Wigan forward to do the 80 mins.
Looked just as strong in the last five mins as the first five.
Hansen played well too.
I do wonder how Bailey is going to get into the team.
To drop either Joel or H for him would be a travesty.
Bails may have to wait for injuries to get his place back.

I think your right the only way Phil will get back into the team will be through injury to either of those two.

I'm really looking forward to Joel's battle with Newton on Friday, it's a shame that Galea's missing because it would have been a great test for Joel and Hansen against the best two backrowers in the comp last year.
I didn't realize until Wigan/Leeds Andy pointed it out that it's only really Joel's third full year so maybe his poor form last year was down to second season syndrome.
Or was it Nobles game plan and tactics that Joel didn't really get a grip of, and now that McGuire's come in and realized what he's capable of he's given him a more freer role within the team.

He definitely looks like he's been told he can actually play rugbyleague and use his passing skills. He hardly ever seemed to look for a pass or an offload last year(which has just reminded me of the play semi at Saints).

I would certainly play Pryce at centre or wing or fullback and bring in Gleeson and Senior!

My back 5 would be-

Eastmond
Pryce
Gleeson
Senior(if he plays like last year and would tour)
Hall

surely better then-

Briscoe
Fox
Bridge
Shenton
Hall

Leon or Karl?

Wayne



Or is it Waine?

I would say the same but I can't help but think about how dangerous the Tomkins, Eastmond partnership was. I would hope that Sinfield from hooker could organise the team so those two could just play. Pryce would probably be great at FB. He certainly needs to be in the team. You don't get many QPTB against the aussies but when we do, I want Leon Pryce on the scene.

I'd stick Myler or Brough at the side of Tomkins tbh.

I'm all for giving new players a shot but Smith went abit too far at the end of last year. We were awful in the world cup and it was clear certain players were out of their depth but guys like Gleeson and Senior are still head and shoulders our best centres and should have been selected.

I actually think if a new man selected that back line with the new halfs we have on the scene aswell as our powerhouse pack we can improve on last years Four Nations. I'm not saying we'll win it but we could make the final and give it another good go(but maybe without the late collapse this time).

I hate him but, Sean Long playing like he was on friday, is the perfect partner for Tomkins

I think its just that Madge has give Joel a free role compared to a very defensive one last year as when he played LF when Lockers was injured, he was awesome there roaming across side to side making great runs.

I just can't agree with that sorry.

Firstly I really liked the way Tomkins and Eastmond progressed as a partnership during the four nations. There is massive potential for the two together and if we’re gonna break that partnership up then the new guy has to be of equal talent. Myler most defiantly isn’t of that calibre and neither is Brough sadly. Brough is a decent SL player who I agree offers something different to Eastmond and Sam but what you gain in kicking ability you lose the running threat.

Secondly although Senior was great for Leeds last season replacing Shenton for him would be a step forward in the short term but a massive step back long term. Shenton like Eastmond and Tomkins held his own when they stepped up to the international level and I’m actually quite excited at the prospect of how these three’s careers will progress.

Also if your going to have Hall on the wing (which I agree with as he’s head and shoulders above the rest) then you can’t, imo, have Pryce on the other wing as we’d be majorly exposed for Pace. The one thing Fox matches any other player in the world for is pace. The kid has it in abundance and he’s also got a habit of getting across the try line as well. I just can’t see what Pryce would offer us on the wing? Full back possibly tho?

I do agree with Gleeson over Bridge tho and if he’s keeps playing like he did on Friday he’ll be one of the first backs down on the sheet.

Myler is a classy player imo and I won't change my mind on that just because he's now turning our for one of our biggest rivals. There isn't a great deal of difference between him and Eastmond imo. I'd have Tomkins slightly ahead but then maybe i'm bias.

I'd like to see all 3 involved in a starting line up and to me the easiest way of doing that is by shifting Eastmond to fullback. It's a position we need to start getting more out of and we're miles behind the Aussies and Kiwi's in what we can offer whilst having guys like Wellens and Briscoe there. The Kiwi's went down the route of putting an attacking fullback in there and a more recognised halfback in Hoahia(sp) and it's paid off bigtime. IMO Eastmond would be a sensation roaming around the middle of the field supporting halfbreaks and running the ball out.

As for Pryce he is a winger/centre imo and has been lucky to be given such a run at 6 by Saints. He's had players like Long and Cunningham helping him out and he's thrived without the pressure of having to play like a proper 6. He'd be our best winger by miles if he got played there. He again could just concentrate on doing what he does best and just running the ball.

As for the centres I like Shenton and he did a very solid job. He'd easily be in my squad but if Senior plays like last year and was willing to tavel he'd be my choice still as left centre. Either way i'm happy enough with Senior or Shenton.

Like everyone else I was very impressed by Joel Tomkins last Friday. He was devastating at times and I remember thinking at half time the oustanding performance he was putting in. He was international potential in him definitely, but this friday will be a big test of him. Let's hope he is up to it.

Pinched off the other website.

(Name - Meters - Carries - Tackles)
Joel Tomkins - 119 - 21 - 36
Stuart Fielden - 117 - 18 - 19
Andy Coley - 98 - 15 - 26
Iafeta Paleaaesina - 75 - 10 - 4
Harrison Hansen - 66 - 9 29
Sean O'Loughlin - 53 - 12 - 27
Paul Prescott - 52 - 8 - 17
Lee Massop - 33 - 5 - 16

Statistically in terms of metres gained, Stuart Fielden and Joel Tomkins were our best forwards. Feka paleaasina on average was making 7.5 metres per carry, which was more than any of our other forwards. He only had to make four tackles in defence. Harrison Hansen was making, on average, 7,3 metres per carry.

It's easy to get carried away with statistics. For example it doesn't take into account the amount of minutes played (Joel played 80 whereas I would argue Fielden didn't play the full 80) and not to mention the opposition.

Friday night will be a great indication of how good our forwards realy are, because in truth, Celtic Crusaders had a dire set of forwards.