Or maybe he's been at Wire all year... Either way, Tommy was a class act last night. Easily one of our most consistent players this year, and - considering everyone thinks he's a hooker, he's turning into a cracking 7. He's been on a constant upward curve since he shaved that daft mullet off

He's never controlled a game since he has been here. Closest was Qunis last week in which he played very well. He did not play as well v Les Cats.

He is far from being a bad player but he isn't a particularly good 7. Apparently our chairman sees his future as a 9, in case people forgot about that.

Dave

I think you have a good point there. TL may well end up at 7 next year again if we do not get a quality 7 in. So if we don't are you saying TL is not a quality 7?

Regardless of that if we do get a new half back in, given MM's form and Riddell is here for two more years what happens to TL?

Dave

So does everyone else.....shows what a stupid decision getting this in to play hooker was

Riddell and Roberts are the biggest waste of money and salary cap ever.

Mcillurum > Riddell
Ainscough > Roberts

and i bet both them lads aren't on as much money between them as one of those so called aussie superstars

Very harsh IMO. I thought the last 2 games he played really well as a 7 with his kicking, organising and creativity all going up a notch or 2.

I too see him as a 9 but if IL saw him as a 9 why did he bring in Riddell?

Whether people like it or not Tommy will be our 7 next year because there is no-one better available and we would have an extra hooker if we did bring in a 7.

So if we hadn't signed Roberts, given Ainscough a run in the first team and he'd flopped, would you be criticising the lack of signings? There was no way to tell before the year if he was ready, and whilst he has shown great attacking prowess, he does need a bit of work defensively, whereas Roberts may not be as explosive an attacker, but is a better overall defender.

No, they aren't. Embarrasing statement.



McIllorum is not better than Riddell, he just mixes it better and as such is more noticeable. Ainscough is nowhere near as good as Roberts.



What does that have to do with anything?

You have to remember that this is his first full season without Barrett to guide the troops around the park. not to mention he has had to play with two different halfbacks and play in two different positions this year.

Athough i am inclined to think he is a 9 (because of his running in open play, his exellent defence and distribution) i am leaning toward keeping him at 7. The only thing he lacks in that department is Vision to read what is happening around him, to often he takes the wrong option of either a kick when we have an overlap or vice-versa. but that will come with time.

TBH unless we sign a real world beater for next year i would be very happy to keep him at 7 next year. Sam and Tommy now have the rest of the season to work togheter, so lets see how they get on.

All good teams have a settled half back pairing.I think tommy and sam tomkins have started to look good together and could make a really good pairing.If we could sign a couple of class props so they were playing behind a dominent pack they could be even better..Look at eastmond last night he was allowed to show what he could do because peletua and graham set a platform for him.

Watch the Catalans match again and then tell me that!!! Roberts is woeful in defence.....ive barely seen him make a tackle all season! Said it from day one...Worryingly we've signed another Mark Calderwood on a 4 year deal!! Don't even get me started on the hooker that cant even be bothered to get fit!

So do you think Ainscough is better than Roberts defensively?

Do you think McIolrum is better than Riddell?

Do you ever really watch a game without picking on your favourite players to criticise.

I think it's unfair comparing McIolrum and Riddell with Ainscough and Roberts, when watching Riddell I can see signs of a good player and he does do some good things with ball in hand, however he for me doesn't do enough of it, although I'm sure his second year we'll see a big improvement in his game, and in the end there's room for both piggy and Mick in the team.

As for Ainscough and Roberts they for me are a lot closer in terms of ability whilst they've been in the Wigan shirt, the pluses for me of having Ainscough in the team and in the squad far out way that of Roberts. Ainscough for me is far more dangerous with ball in hand plus he doesn't take up a quota spot and wont be on as bigger wage, as for there defensive ability to say Roberts is the more experienced player and yet is not much stronger than Ainscough. It's probably is a year to early for Ainscough at the mo but my concern is that when Ainscough is ready for a wing spot Roberts is gonna be in his way, that for me is short sightedness from Lenegan.

We play with split halves. Tommy down the left and Sam down the right. As I a halfback when you are set up like this you can only control the players on your side.

Our attack down the left is brilliant. I thought alot of it was due to Hock but after the last two performances it seems that is not the case. We look as dangerous as ever attacking that side and its all to do with Tommy. The long pass Tommy threw out for Richards try was superb.

We are all saying he should go to 9 but the truth is he has played so well and consistantly at half back this season that he deserves to stay there.

i noticed the same when we blitzed salford in the first 20. in the last 20, it was almost as though we had to start playing on timmys side cos he hadnt had the ball, and we lost all of the momentum.

Riddel needs to drop some weight

Tommy i cant belive how much he's come on this year been awesome for us

The pass to Richards was Barrett-esque. Great pass.

it would be fairer to judge tommy at 7 if he was playing behind a more forceful pack, we desperately need 2 props in to take us to the next level. fielden sadly is on the decline and feka not fit enough not enough game time and terrible in defence.

never mind trent, it was so good, it was farrell-esque !

Tommy is a good player with a good future, but is he a top 7? IMO no.

Wigan in attack often still look clueless, Tommy doesn't create enough overall with ball in hand. Doesn't have the ability to unlock a top defense.

He's playing well, but doesn't offer enough as a 7.

I agree, he's a 9, I think most of us know that.
One of the posters on this thread (no names) continues to show us his understanding of the game is zero, its a shocking shame he doesn't realise it!

to allow the partnership between him and sam to develop and lets see where it takes us.

Agree there mate,,For his size he certainly can pack a punch....

Still think at times we looked clueless.

Far too often we tried to run over a pack twice the size of ours when we have pace out wide.

Agreed. Why on Earth we give the ball to people like Coley after we make a break I have no idea. He should be nowhere near the line.

We wasted a full set of six in the second half in their 10 by just driving at the line.