Tomkins was fantastic in the second half.

I have to admit, I hate the little runt when he plays against Saints, but when he pulls on the england shirt, I love him to bits. One of only a small few, who you can tell has the win at all costs ethos. I just know he would go toe to toe with Gallen if the situation called for it such is his pride.

Youve got a goodun wigan, lets hope he becomes the player we all know he can become. Eastmond and Tomkins as our half backs for years to come. Love it.

I have to agree about Slater....Great player though he is, what an absolute ar$e he can be with his attitude.

Imagine the stick he'd take in Super League from the crowds, with that type of demeanour.

Actually thought he was lucky to stay on at the end with his throwing the ball away antics....I think if Thurston hadn't already gone, then Ganson may just have shown him 10 minutes in the bin....

To quote a Wiganer at the match yesterday (in response to the crowd chanting Billy Slater you're a w@nker)

[iWouldn't mind him being a w@nker in a Wigan shirt.[/i
You'd have to agree!

...Definitely agree.....However, over here at Wire, we have got Richie Mathers, so to be honest we have the next best thing....

Liked the way Sam T, did take a backward step in defence even throwing Hodges around like a rag doll. Took a big dump tackle from Gallen as well. But in attack he really did look good, surprised Smith didn't get Eastmond on earlier. Eastmond and Tomkins really gave us some impetus in attack. Though Burgess started slow one big hit and he came to life Crabtree and Graham did ok, Peacock and Morley where quiet. Roby is gash.

For me Roby seems to have 'lost it' since he got MOS, maybe he felt guilty recieving it and lost his confidence due to feeling like a fake.

I never got the Roby hype, just thought he was a average player who came off the bench to give Cunningham a breather.

He was more than that. He would create zip at a time when defences were tiring which under the old system worked very well, as Wigan found out to their cost. However, he hasn't adapted to the new way of playing and has been poor all season. I am surprised Smith picked him to be honest but then he did do better in the second half when Sinfield took his place. So maybe he simply needs to play elsewhere.

Also, he tackles like a demon, which is useful against the Aussies.

I honestly don't believe he is good enough to play anywhere else, it shows how poor our no9 situation is, when the best hooker in SL in going to call it a day next year.


If was Smith I would of got Diskin & Cunningham for this 4 nations, ballcocks to youth & the world cup we should be building of a good basis and getting shown up in the 4 nations imo is not a good basis to be building from.

The problem with Roby is that he was built up every other week by Abbot & Costello on SKY as 'The saviour of Rugby League / Best youngster in World RL...etc'. Similar story to Wellens & Maguire, pumped up as true greats when realistically they would be lucky to serve in any NRL teams at all.

Not the players faults just the hype around them is and has been ridiculous for years, so much so when they play truly class sides like the Aussies and Kiwis they are shown to be what they truly are: distinctly average.

He can be a handy support player which at present is all he is capable of. He is also a hard worker and every team needs those. Defensively he is very good and again, every team needs those. I wondered why Westwood was included and yet I was reminded yesterday of what a workhorse he is. We need workhorses too.

We don't need gifted players in all positions (which is probably a good job really!) but what we do need is defensively sound players and gifted players in the playmaking roles. We will never have 17 gifted players. Not even Australia has 17 gifted players. It's just that they have enough to intimidate other teams and, given half the chance (and we gave them a full half), drive them through the floor.

Three of our young players showed up many of the senior players yesterday. Tomkins, Eastmond and Burgess all brought the x-factor to the game and that is exactly what we need. The old guard had to go and we may as well ditch them now while we have chance to build for the world cup than wait for another world cup washout.

Wellens has been a superb fullback. His positional sense and defensive qualities have been the best over the last 10 years. The only way in which Wello lacks is in pace and he always has lacked pace. It didn't matter so much when he first played but the game has changed and has left him behind in that respect. Hence, he wasn't picked this season. I hope he has enjoyed his rest and time with the family. At least he doesn't get the stick this year!

I would also like to have seen Michael Lawrence included in the squad in place of Lee Smith (going to Rugby Union why put him in)

I can't stick this bloke and I am sure many posters are aware of how he never gives English players any praise and berates the entire English game but I give you LeagueFreak's take on Sam Tomkins:





Sam had an impressive debut. Our kicking close to the line improved when he took control and caused Billy Slater (the best fullback in the world?) some problems and as the game went on he looked much more dangerous.

He has to play next week.

Yes they certainly hype this Ozzie team. For me they are very far from the best Ozzie team ever.

Comparing Lockyer to players like Wally Lewis or Brett Kenny is insulting .

Lockyer is very good by todays standards, but won't go down as a legend.

The 80's Oz teams were better IMHO.

If our forwards 'beef up' we can beat the Ozzies no problem.

Sam talks to Sky Sports Eddie Hemmings after the match - [url=http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid29318049001?bctid=47151938001Click Here[/url

I think that's being unfair to Lockyer, the Darren Lockyer you're seeing at the moment (and for most of this season in the NRL) is a pale shadow of what he's delivered year on year through his career. I'm certain Lockyer will go down as one of the NRL greats.

Lockyer has beaten Mal Meniga's record for the number of appearances for Australia.
He has broken Clive Churchill's record for the number of times he's captained Australia.
Lockyer yesterday equalled Ken Irvine's record for the number of tries scored by an Australian in Internationals. Score against the French and he will have the Irvine record.
Lockyer is one of the all time greats, if not the greatest, an absolute legend!

And on top of all that, he's good looking and intelligent too!

*drool*

Because LeagueFreak said so



No but really, no english player other than Morley gets any praise so I think for him to stand out in his opinion is pretty good.

We're desperate for some young outside backs to come through now that we seem to be sorting our halfback problems out. A clever hooker wouldn't go amiss either........maybe McGuire can mould McIlorum into a clever hooker to add to his energy and his toughness(and then we'd need to get him to switch over to England).

As for the outside backs it's be great for the national side if we rounded up the likes of Lawrence, Cudjoe, Ainscough, Hall, Briscoe, Watkins, Wheeler and co and sent them all over to Australia to play in the NRL.

IMO the best way to find a clever hooker is to put a half-back at hooker.

Noooo!! We want him here to play centre for Saints!

Or a halfback playing without much pace playing at 13 like Sinfield.

Having just watched yesterdays game back for the first time i thought Sinfield was excellent when he went in at hooker and really got us rolling forward with crisp and clever distribution.

I had him down as my 6 for next week but i've changed that now to 9 with Myler partnering Tomkins.

I have been saying Sinfield should play hooker for england for quite a while, let him for most of the match and let someone like Eastmond who is rapid try and get us moving forward quicker.