Does MM see Sam as a Billy Slater type fullback?

Fair enough.

As I say, I can be persuaded either way in this discussion. Not that I'm a Lib-Dem or anything.

You would really want Kevin Brown as your last line of defence?

I wonder if Tommy can be made into more of the organising scrum half that we're looking for, and if that's a large part of the reason Deacon was brought in. Tommy's only 24, remember, so still developing his game, and we've got him for at least 2.5 more years.

I think we've seen signs under Madge that he's being given more of that role, and many have commented that we look a lot less structured when he's not on the field. With Deacon to work with, his long kicking game should improve, too.

Further down the line, we've got Joe Mellor, if he's still as good after his injury as he was before.

At fullback, no, but both he and Sam are two of the best defensive standoffs around.

So when I say neither of them are good enough tacklers to be full backs, you agree? I didn't say they can't do their job defensively from stand off, but defending at full back is a lot harder.

1.Tomkins
2.Roberts
3.Glesson
4.Marsh/goulding
5.Richards
6.Brown
7.Finch

I'm undecided on that, actually. Prior to the Widnes game, I'd probably have agreed, and yes, I know it was "only Widnes", but Sam did a pretty good job there. He's made some pretty spectacular chases back to tackle this season, he's got the pace, we know he's good under the bomb - TBH I might pick him there ahead of Phelps (who isn't all that good defensively himself), but behind Amos & Pat.

TBF there is one very simple thing here. If you have good players then it is silly to play them in a lower position.

I hate to use football as an advantage but I feel it is good as a comparison here. Steven Gerrard is capable of scoring goals and would be an adequate striker if needed BUT as a Defensive midfielder he's one of the best footballers in the world.

I dont see why there is any grounds for Brown being brought in. He's too good to be a backup and putting Sam into a weaker position would make him an adequate player not the brilliant one that he is now. I think Brown is a pointless buy unless he can play 7 to be honest.

cant see this happening, he has two years left to run on his contract at the giants and is happy, would take a big transfer fee also, big surprise if he joins you at end of this season.

Yeah I agree Sam Tomkins should get the full back gig ahead of Phelps and Brown, but not Roberts or Richards. He's definitely fast enough that he'd shut down all but the very paciest backs if his positioning is right but I'm not sure he's quite good enough a tackler, I think if a big second rower busts through 30 metres out Sam would get slapped aside whereas Roberts or Richards would make the tackle.

I can't believe so many posters would be willing to chop and change positions are current players are playing in, just to accommodate Kevin Brown. Reading the Giants CEO's comments it won't be happening any way, and thank god in my opinion, Brown is not someone we need, his style and choice of position's are not for us.

We have two of the best half backs in super league. Why would we sign Kevin Brown.

To provide quality cover for a few positions maybe? Considering the fact that in the backs; Phelps, Pryce, Deacon and Carmont are all off contract at the end of the year.

Well from what i can gather Brown wants out if thats true and i dont know for sure, I do know the hot money is on Mathers to go to Huddersfield next year maybe they want him as a stand off.
Its something to do with Nathan Brown leaving.

I think that would be a bit of a luxury because he'd likely command a decent wedge, especially if he gets international honours, and with the way the salary cap is it wouldn't be wise to have a sizeable chunk of our allotted cash turning out for the under 20's every week waiting for someone to get injured.

Personally I'm in the camp that would not like to see our current personnel and system change drastically just to accomodate a player who wouldn't necessarily make us any better.

i agree why shuffle the team around to accomodate brown. leave him where he is.

I would have him if Pryce and Deacon didn't get new deals, surely he wouldn't demand more than the amount of their combined wage??

Deacon is on the coaching staff not the playing staff next year

Exactly, this is a guy who won't get anywhere near an England shirt unless someone gets injured. The only way I could see it working is Brown + Tomkins in the halves with Leuluai + Riddell as the two hookers but even then I think we'd lack a bit of direction from the halves and weaken the team a bit by having Leuluai on less.

Plus theres the fact we have Mickey as a hooker too so dont even need Tommy as a hooker apart from when theres injuries anyway.

Like andy greg said Deacs is due to join the coaching staff full-time at the end of the season so he'll be off the cap whatever happens. Karl Pryce is probably on more than he should be granted but whn everybody in our squad is fully fit I honestly don't see him being anywhere near the 17, whatever happens between now and the end of this season.

I'd rather we used the cap space we'll probably have to to bring in someone who will improve our starting 13 i.e. a big name prop or centre to replace Carmont/Fielden/Feka/whoever ends up not getting a new deal

The important point about taking a British option with Brown is that you get a half back partnership which could last five years or more if as expected Deacon retires at the end of the season. Thus far, no club has won a Superleague grand final with an Aussie halfback, (I don't count the NZ halfs who won like the Pauls because they spent their careers over here) and wigan remain the only team to a fielded an Aussie half in a final. Strong and stable base is what Brown Tomkins would give you for many a year. With Tommy Lou looking more and more like a hooker in the long term this is a further element of that stability. Whatever Brown's problems in the past, he's a great player now. He'll get no-where at Hudds as long as the gravity field that is brough is at hudds.

Sensible post.

I was a big fan of Kevin Brown during his first stint at the club and was sad to see how it all ended up for him here because I think he deserved better. He's a Wigan fan and he always gave his all but his confidence was shot to bits.

As for him coming back it all depends really. If he came in and Deacon went onto the coaching staff then imo we'd be in a stonger position because Deacon doesn't look like his body is upto it anymore. I probably would want more of an organiser to come in as a like for like replacment for Deacon but if Maguire and Wane want Brown then thats fine with me. I see good signs in both Sam Tomkins game and Tommy Leuluai's game at the moment which suggest they are really developing their organising games and both have time on their sides to continue that.

A partnership made up from Sam, Leuluai or Brown in any order would be fine by me and all 3 could be at this club for a very long time which gives us stability.