Agreed. Not even a discussion about fullback. He was back to his very best last year....

I can’t think of anyone else I’d want at fullback tbh or I’d consider it. I think Lomax deserves a crack at six. He’s played a few games for England but they seem to have been at fullback or cameos off the bench. One issue I’ve got is that I think we need a top level goal kicker as well and a player to kick us around the field and I don’t think Lomax, Williams or Tomkins bring that. At the minute I’d probably go 1-Tomkins, 6-Lomax and 7-Gale and have George Williams covering the halves and hooker from the bench.

I’ve read a few people saying how poor the halfback options are at the moment but we’ve been in worse spots in the last 20-30 years. It’s tough to really judge it because we hardly play any internationals but the lads available are playing for top teams here and in Williams case, holding down a spot at one of the best teams in the NRL. It’s not all bad IMO.

Just realised I totally forgot Gale. Dur. Disregard my last post. Tomkins at FB, Williams and Gale in the halves.

I had a front row seat to the tackle on Deacon at Huddersfield, was one of the most blatant shots that I’ve seen, the damage nearly killed him.

That shot had nothing to do with Winning instinct. Was one of the worst things I've seen on a rugby field.
As bad as the assault on Ronan O 'Gara, which you can watch in graphic detail on YouTube

Spot on.

I think one thing that does tend to get overlooked a little with Faz is his goal kicking, to be able to play the way he did but also convert from our wide under pressure was outstanding, not forgetting his drop goal ability too.

Double post

Just scored a cracking try..

Tomkins is certainly one of the best fullbacks I've seen at Wigan. Up there with Radlinski, Hampson and Henry Paul certainly. One name that hasn't been mentioned on here much is Joe Lydon who was superb at fullback. A real big game player who could turn a game on his own. He could score from anywhere on the pitch. Then there was his amazing kicking out of the hand not to mention drop goals (THAT semi final drop goal from 60m for instance).

I think if you could take aspects of all the players above you'd have the perfect fullback. Lydon's pace and big game mentality, Hampson's defence and freakish ability under the high kick, Henry Paul's unorthodox ball skills, Radlinski's support play up the middle and Tomkins ability to chime into the line and hit the gap or put someone else in.

Joe Lydon waa a cracker. Hope I'm not jinxing Tomkins for the rest of the game, Cats v Wakey but he's been imperious so far.

He's still the best FB in the league for me and a good couple of levels above French.

Bit poor comparing him to French to be homest

With his pace and elusiveness French can do thinks other players can’t. For me, both Coote and Tomkins are overall better full backs, more rounded players. Tomkins is top if the class IMO.

Waney won't be ignoring him, that's for sure.

Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s captain under Wane. He’s all class. We sadly got him for that second spell at a time his body wasn’t right but he’s looking in good nick now and the time struggling with injury has helped round his game.

Why?

If I'd have said he was better than Coote (which is he), would it still have been a poor comment?

Are we not allowed to compare two of SL's top rated FB's.

Funny opposite fans are finally starting to appreciate him now he doesn’t play for Wigan.

Light years ahead of Hardaker, Connor etc. He should be the first name on Englands team sheet.

It’s funny how that works. Micky Mac had the same in the first year or two at Catalans. Sam Tomkins is a legend of this sport. He was done over at least once when he should’ve got man of steel and Wayne Bennett ignored him inexplicably for England on a few occasions. Guys like Hardaker, Connor, Lomax, Widdop etc are very good players but Sam Tomkins is the sort of player you see come round once every twenty years or so. I hope he gets the end to his international career he deserves under Waney. That will be as the first choice fullback and maybe even Captain and he will run the team. We don’t celebrate our top players enough in this country and he’s been one of the best.

Completely agree with you

If he were made of chocolate he'd eyt his self

I would love to see him finish his career off where it began.

Seems really happy in the South of France and who can blame him. Seems to have a nice house, pool and nice weather. He’s got his family with him and can get back over here on a regular basis. He’s pushing for a new deal with them, so a lot will depend on what they can offer.

It’s something for Wigan to keep an eye on but I can’t see it.

Replace someone who loves himself even more, JH, for a couple of years at 6?

I don’t get this obsession with bringing former players back. He shouldn’t have been let go in the first place but he was and we - and he - have moved on.

Agree with this.

Others will counter that "he wanted to leave", but if there was ever a player that we should have used a marquee spot for, it was Tomkins. I don't care if he wasn't the running FB of old, he's a far more rounded player now.