If Tomkins returns, what does this mean for Ryan Hampshire? I know we all wish he'd play at 6 but Wane only sees him as a fullback. Will he want to be used a s a reserve fullback for he next 5 years or so? I expect he'll try and find another club, just like Matty Russell did.

He will move to 6 with williams coming off the bench as impact hooker.

Alternatively, sam to 6 maybe

1. Hampshire
6. Tomkins
7. Smith
9. McIlorum
14. Williams

Or Hampshire and Tomkins swapped round

Sam would be wasted in a side that has Williams at 6.

He gets caught in possession too much and his distribution is poor (passes ending up behind the receiver).

My option would be Sam at 1 with Hampshire at 6. I've always wanted to see Sam go back to 6 but the emergence of Hampshire has changed that.

Rocky just doesn't seem a natural 1 but he's too good to leave the club. The only real option is playing him at 6 imo.

I agree. I'd hope Wane and the club have a complete rethink if Sam comes back and we don't stubbornly persist with Williams at 6 just because we gave Williams the 6 jersey for this season.

Wane might think he is being loyal to a young player in keeping Williams at 6 so it would not surprise me if he did but you have to make such decisions for the good of the club when things like this occur giving you an opportunity to improve the side.

To be fair to Wane he played Powell at 6 with Williams as the bench hooker against Cas and Hull, so he isn't just stubbornly using Williams at 6 because he gave him the shirt. We could well have stuck with that if Powell didn't get injured against Hull.

True but there is an opportunity to screw this up should Sam return and what motivates Wane to give players certain jersey's is a bit mystifying at times. I'd like us to start with a blank sheet of paper for the team sheet, come up with the best combination and go from there. Not do anything daft like say Williams is the incumbent at 6 and this isn't going to change or whatever.

Was told a month back that Tomkins was going back to Wigan and Hampshire was coming to Leeds. That was before Sinfield's retirement. Only a rumour, but it didn't come from nowhere.

I for one will be very annoyed if we let such a talent leave. He's looked more dangerous than Williams for a while but hasn't been given a chance, finally he is now, albeit in a position he's not a natural in.

We saw Dom Manfredi handed a new deal, along with Sutton and Powell earlier in the year. IIRC, Rads said in the fans forum in off season that they were close to agreeing new deals with Charnley and Hampshire along with a couple of others. Weird that we've not heard anything since?

Hampshire must be tied to a new deal. It shouldn't be one of him or Sam Tomkins, it should be both with one at stand off and one at full back.

All our other 1,6,7 and 9 options aside from McIlorum aren't going to terrorise opposition (McIlorum obviously in a different way) and that's what we need to do. I think Matty Smith is an ideal foil for Sam Tomkins or Hampshire at 6 but I'd even settle on losing him to keep the first two.

Logan Tomkins and Sam Powell could be the big losers in any potential move. If they aren't and Hampshire is I'll be disappointed.

A lot of us would be annoyed and disappointed if Hampshire were to leave but we all should have learned by now that lack of an announcement does not necessarily mean anything in itself. It may be frustrating for us fans to not know for certain but there is no requirement for the club to announce immediately that any player has signed a new deal. IL seems fond of waiting and grouping contract/new signing news together.

Certainly if any player has not yet signed an offered contract then it would be strange indeed for the club to publicise the fact. So if a contract offer was turned down why would anyone expect an announcement of such? All that would achieve would be to alert rivals to a potential signing

A new contract may have been signed or may have been turned down by Hampshire, the recent run in the side may have some bearing on his decision if one has not been agreed as yet. Yes it is frustrating as a fan not being sure but lack of an announcement doesn't necessarily mean there is nothing to announce.

Just watched the Warriors v Tigers game, and it struck me (here comes the maths bit

)

Lolo @ Warriors = Hampshire @ Wigan: terrifically talented player with quick feet and hands, but is he really a 1 or a 6? And meanwhile, another big cheese full-back is on the way...

I think it's more of Hampshire to do a sean long, I hope I'm wrong but that's the first thing that comes to mind when discussing the possibility of such a talented young stand off leaving the club

Be interesting if the club did allow Hampshire to leave what would happen at the next fans form.

They have to play him each week, his form dictates it, then surely he will stay.

Heard from a good source that Tomkins is going to 6 and Rocky to stay at full back.

I really hope so. His pace and acceleration are phenomenal. Rocky has to be signed up on as long a contract as possible.
Make it happen, IL. The prospect of having Sam, Rocky and Williams in the team, together with Sarge and 2 speedy wingers is very very exciting!

I like this quote after the game from Wane:



I'm glad he realises that we can't always play to a structured offense and we need special plays from the likes of Hampshire and Gelling.

The most pleasing aspect of Hampshires play these past few games has been defensively. We know he can attack but his positioning has been very good, he's been steady when dealing with kicks and he's made tackles when asked to do so.

I'm dreaming of a huge night of announcements on Thursday with Sam being confirmed as well as new deals for Hampshire, Sarginson and whoever else.

Let's make it an announcement overload!!

Yeah, i'm staggered, who would have thought a man who has played and coached at a high level has only just realised this..

Have you watched us yet this season?

Notice how I didn't use the roll eyes smiley to not make it look like I'm a know-it-all forum-warrior?

Yes, and it's been very scrappy... But i would imagine that SW does know this...

And surely the point is, you don't worry about off-the-cuff footy too much when you're struggling as a team, as we were at the start of the season. Get the structures right first, and once you've accomplished that, then you'll have the confidence to play the ad lib stuff later.

Exactly, just a little patience needed....

Yet it took 7 weeks to see any sort of change in our attack...

The cliché of "nilling them was the best part about it" is lost on me also. Personally I'm much happier we managed to score 8 tries. Catalan offered barely anything with the ball - did they even complete a set in the first half?