Surely you've missed the point that was being made. With Powell not fit, Finch not fit, Leuluai absent and O'Loughlin pretty much an essential in the pack, we do actually have another option in the halves, contrary to what Shaun Wane suggested.

There aren't many that don't agree that Tomkins is a fullback, but when you've got a choice between moving him back into the halves or letting an unfit player struggle on against the strongest side in the league it would be madness not to consider moving him to a position he's familiar with to avoid carrying an unfit player throughout the whole game.

Also, when it comes to Tomkins at fullback, he really does need to start playing to his potential in big games. He's played well sometimes in big games, he's also had some pretty terrible performances in big games. I can't remember many big games where he's been outstanding. That's why he's not in the same class as Slater, Inglis, Barba, Bowen etc.

These players would not move to stand off.
You wouldnt ask Cavendish to lead Wiggins out into a sprint.
I agree Lockers cant play at 6, but we can (and should) sign another player or get Sean Long(only joking!)

Hard being a "Warrior" in Rochdale this week.

Mash, so what you are saying is if every halfback in the club is injured ,either experienced or not we must stay as we are.
By that I mean if we have a young promising fullback who has only ever played fullback and as never let us down,it is Sam who stays at fullback even though we have to juggle forwards about to get a team on the field. Weighing up your options and making a decision which brings the least dissruption to your team is what is required.
An example would be If Pat Richards is fit for the last few matches and Wigan still had major problems at halfback what would you do,Leave Sam at fullback and move Pat to standoff or use the commen sense approach. I would love to see your answer.

Sam Tomkins is a good full-back. He is equally as good at stand-off. It's not difficult. Infact, with more involvment and with his creativity, he would probably be more effective in the halves, we only have two set moves with him at full-back, and they are both the same, just on opposite sides of the pitch, unless he creates something on his own, which he regularly did at stand-off.

As dangerous as Sam is playing at fullback, if we have more options at 1 than 6 then he has to play 6. You make the least amount of changes to your team as possible and having a half fit player with no direct replacement is suicide in a big game imo.

I can't be @rsed trying to dig them out but I'd be willing to bet a decent amount that Sam's strike rate with regards to tries and assists is higher when he's played FB than HB. I don't know how you can say he is equally good at stand off with so much certainty, we haven't seen him there for over 2 years and he's a much better player now than he was then. We definitely don't only have 2 moves either.

I do agree with the point that is being made though about putting him back there in a needs must situation. Hopefully Finch will be back closer to full fitness come next Monday and I'm also sceptical about how "injured" Powell was when he was warming up for everyone to see. If Sam had played 6 on Saturday and Russell/Murphy had messed up for a try there would be so many posters on here giving it "he shouldn't have played in such a big game" etc, SW can't win. He took a risk, it didn't pay off, time to buck our ideas up and move forward to the last few games.

I don't think you need too, his strike rate is by far better at FB than HB. Anyone who's watched Wigan in the past few years could tell you that.

With regards to Sam going back to HB, in all honesty it wouldn't be a bad move in the short term. IF Finch is injured and not fully fit, I'd consider;

1. Russell
6. Sam
7. Smith

(or vice versa Smith and Sam)

At the end of the day ST can play at HB - he played there all his playing career until MM moved him. In the short term it could prove to be a good switch.

I say short term because our gameplan does sometimes rely on Sam hitting the ball at pace from the FB position into gaps/space. I haven't seen any of Russell so I couldn't comment on his ability to fill in there.

There's usually one or two of us wandering around the local Asda.