i think it's more to do with the fact he weighs about 6 stone wet through

Last season 2 Rhino's did and twice he got up and played on.

Conclusion ; class will always beat thuggery.

Sam's more streetwise now and the bait is taken almost every time

Regards , EW

It's not Sam's poor defence that the worry is, it's that at 6 he would have to make probably 25+ tackles a game. At 1 he makes around 8-10. So when he come's into the line he's fresh and quick.
He's fast paced and thinking quickly, at 6 he would be knackered.
This has shown at Leeds with 15 mins to go he was at first receiver off Finch, kicked through and scored. For the last play when we got the pen it was Sam who's pace took him past the Leeds defence. All in the last minutes of the half.
Same yesterday, five minutes from the end of the first half his quick thinking took him across the field spreading the Saints defence and pulling the wingman in from the touchline, Charnley scored.
He offers more from one, later in his career he'll go back to 6.

Common sense at last.

When he was playing 6 as he was when he first broke into the first team he was a real terrier in defence often being first man in after the opposition play the ball when marking. It also had the advantage he was not usually doing many one-on-one tackles. As we do in defence it's a two and three man effort most of the time so he wasn't trying to stop props single handed. Other teams cope with small half backs and do not move them to full back so I doubt that is what lies behind it. If it was its a bit of an odd move because he is far more exposed defensively to being run at by big men playing at 1 and I do think that is a problem against the better sides who will break through more than some of the poorer sides in the competition.

If he is targeted in the line then do as other sides do in such circumstances and move him out wide for the first few drives.

Now Sir Pat is back I suspect we will see Sams form pick up in the coming weeks. They have a very good understanding back there when they both drop back and Pat knows exactly where and what he should be doing to help get the best out of Sam imo.

Surrounded by around 8 fans today, called Sam rotten through out the game - 'Greedy b******' and 'Wish he would f-in pass the ball'

Yet when he scored, set up Charnleys try with that great chip over and offload, got out of in goal superbly etc etc - they couldnt wait to say 'Well done Sam'

Give the lad a break people, yes okay he doesnt always pass - but weve got to trust his judgement - one of, if not thee brightest thing to come out of our academy in years yet he gets more grief than support at times.

And before anyone says, at times yes he should of used the option of passing instead of running on his own, but the amount of times he has backed himself and got us out of a hole speaks for its self really.

I mean, even John Kear praised him. :O

If we play Sam at 6 who plays at FB? We have Sam, finch, deacon and Tommy who can all play 6 to a proven high standard. But only Sam and possibly Pat who can SL a good job as a FB and Pat is better on the wing.

So keep him there. Roberts isn't worth a place in the starting 13.

He was awesome at times today and he's a joy to watch when playing like that. He of course makes some errors of judgement but who doesn't and that decision making when deciding to running or pass when in possession will really improve as the Years role by.

As for his position he's quality at 1 or 6. I do get the feeling teams are getting to grips with that move were he comes on the link from fullback a little but he's still so dangerous in broken play. His chip over the top and his numerous fancy footed jinking runs today were sensational. I'm happy to leave what position he plays to the coaching staff.

The only times he looked bad was coming into the line from FB..... he gets caught out every time now, he does not have the same space, they are ready for him. His kick returns are also terrible when he runs into the line, he needs to run across and look for space.

He got my MOM for his off the cuff plays today though, he was superb, quality to watch..... not like watching paint dry

sam couldn't tackle a hot dinner,especially one with yorkshire puddings

I'm sure the the coaching staff appreciate your non-interference regarding team selection.

You pies......

Its great how much he annoys opposition fans, especially Leeds fans

The best player in Super League

Id take him over Brent Webb.. easily.

John Kear in his post match interview on radio Leeds said that Sam Tomkins was the big difference in todays sides,
He was a class apart.

the class act on the field today. if we could take one player from your team it would be tomkins in a flash

a bit greedy at times and really irritating with his arm tugging, but absolute quality and a young lad to boot.

hanging on to him will be difficult when NRL or RU come knocking.

dont knock him. you are lucky to have him!

Classic Tomkins.



Sam Tomkins in the thread title and they can't help themselves.

Classic Tomkins.

It's a shame the refs can't say the same about you Leeds fans not interfering in their jobs!

Give many penalties out today?

Sam ran 235 metres from FULLBACK on Friday, that's probably the highest from any player in a single Superleague match this season.

However today I think he may have beat it, I'm sure Bilko will tell us once the stats are released.

He is quality when he doesn't just die at the defenders feet. He needs to run round the edges of the defenders more often. He is still a better 6 though. He gets caught coming into the line EVERY TIME.

Putting the words FULLBACK in capitals doesn't make him better in that position despite him still being a huge threat from the position.

Alot of his awesome off the cuff rugby today was from second receiver.

No one questions his class, they just think he'd be better served playing at 6.

The problem is that Sam is our best option at both full-back AND stand-off so this debate is going to keep happening until that situation changes

From a neutral point of view I think him playing at full back allows him more freedom to generate some speed before he meets the first line of defence. There were a number of times where we kicked today and by the time the defensive line was up on him he was already motoring and a side step or a shimmy later and he was through the defence or at least allowing you a quick play the ball whilst we were still trying to get the defence set.

Has Roby not ran over that in any match? He usually makes a good amount of yards.