I have only jusr got back from holiday in france so have only seen the highlights and read the forums and stuff, I am shocked by the amount of comparison between the two. I am personally chuffed they are both going to be great players for England and I would take Eastmond at Wigan anyday and I am sure any wise saints fan would say the same about Tomkins.

Who was better on friday night though? All I know is that Eastmonds try was slightly overated by many people.

Any opinions on who is the better player are welcomed but I shall not really enter that debate as I will just look forward to them playing against each other over years to come and hopefully playing along side each other for England.

sam was better on friday, but both looked like real prospects.

Wasnt much between them on friday. Tompkins wasnt as good as people suggest, he was just noticed more because Wigans one and only plan consisted of giving him the ball, which is the reason wigan lacked anything in attack, because Tompkins doesnt know how to unlock a drilled defence.

Eastmond had to share playmaking duties with a number of other players so wasnt probably noticed as much, but showed his vision by nearly putting a couple of players through gaps, and nearly making breaks himself. Desperate defending from Wigan stopped these breaks.

Eastmond is rated higher by coaches and his peers and I also agree with this sentiment, that he will turn out the overall better player. Probably by some margin too.

He certainly isn't.

Eastmonds defence is poor and Sams isnt as he shows, he also reads the game better and covers everywhere. The only thing I saw from Eastmond was blistering pace.

Don't agree with that at all. I think Eastmond is a decent player and will continue to develop. But imo Tompkins is more the all round Half back. His kicking game, his vision and he doesn't nearly!!! do things he actually does them.....

Unlike most players he has the all round game to unlock a team in a different way, using his pace or reading the game like he did for his try.

if eastmond hadnt scored the winning try he would have been fairly anonymous.................and he only scored it because of the weather, dont forget that.
on a dry pitch he wouldnt have got close.

sam hands down for me.

No wonder no-one takes you seriously...

Isnt this "Random Male" the guy who was insisting on referring to Tomkins as the "Travelling Friend" or something like that?

Hardly surprising he pretends hes no good

Any chump knows to follow Meli if he's attempting to field a kick

I have no comeback to that

I changed my post to reflect reality a touch more

You are more wise than I thought now then





What about Tomkins and Eastmond though?

It's Tomkins.
Not bloody Tompkins.
Tomkins, Tomkins, Tomkins. How hard can it be to copy a name out correctly?
Good grief!

I think Tomkins was by far the better player on Friday night but Eastmond is inconsistent and he was much better against Wire than against you lot. I think he may be a confidence player whereas Tomkins doesn't give the impression of being short on confidence.

Eastmond was very good against warrington but I do not think he is a confidence player. Kevin Brown is a confidence player.

Both are young with lots of potential. I think Wigan fans have gone a bit overboard on how good Tomkins [icurrently[/i is, just as Saints fans have gone overboard on how good Eastmond [icurrently[/i is.

IMO Tomkins is currently benefiting from having a settled role in your team, whereas Eastmond hasn't had that as yet in ours. Both need time to settle into their roles and learn to play the game.

Oh yeah, and Tomkins is turning into a niggly little b*st*rd which, as someone said on Redvee, is good because we haven't had a Wigan player to hate since Farrell left

[size=75(though I stopped hating Farrell in 2004)[/size.

Eastmond should find it easier around some of the players he plays with though, Tomkins does not have as much class around him.

I do not understand the saints players hate for Tomkins, he seems like a nice guy. He is certainly no Long, Millward or Martyn.

Hate comes from fear

cant help thinking your a stains fan

I agree with that, but I think Tomkins has more of a defined role within the which can make it easier for him.



Saints players? I don't know anything about the players hating him. I'm also led to believe that Martyn is a nice guy.

Sorry I meant fans!

Apart from consistently finding space (especially from distance) with his kicking (something Saints have struggled to achieve for some time), being halted half a metre before the line on his way to a second try, showing excellent hands (given the conditions) taking a trio of shocking passes without knocking on, demonstrating solidity and tenacity in defence etc. etc. etc.

I don't think that there is a lot between the two of them. In one game Sam may play better then it could be reversed the next. Both have got quite a bit of developing to do IMO and it will be interesting how they compare this time next year.

I think it is great that there are these two, plus Myler, who can possibly develop into world class players to give the Aussies a run for their money.

If they all keep fit it's a pity that one of them will be the bridesmaid as far as international honours are concerned, unless Sam develops as a centre later?

Who will it be? My money's on Myler as the misser due to his woeful defence. What do you think?