Since Johnstone's return he's hardly been on fire but to be fair he's not had many chances. Last night he scored two fairly simple tries but nothing special. Last night was definitely a team win.

So although he's not playing incredibly he's still incredible IMHO. In those four games ??, he's still scored 3 tries, more tries than we've scored as a team in most post-COVID games.

We know he's quick he is and we know he's an acrobat but he's also got an incredible instinct when it comes to scoring tries. It's a gift that's hard to explain but he's always there and nearly always has just enough time and space to score. It's a gift, it can't be trained IMHO, he just has it. You can train and improve his defence, occasionally his positioning, even his speed but that instinct too know when it's on is a rare gift indeed.

Makinson is a quality winger but he's in a team where chances come thick and fast but his try-scoring record per game is not much better than Toms, may not be as good I have not checked.

Part of Toms confidence comes from being at the same club all his career, suits some players, whether he could take that to a bigger stage I don't know. Personally, I think he could but I really hope he doesn't as we need him. Over the last 5 years, I reckon TJ has score 30-40 tries that we wouldn't otherwise have bagged. He's been a huge difference between winning and losing, almost to the point of costing us our SL spot in his absence, see 2019.

Oh well, fingers crossed because I reckon it will be another 50 years before we uncover such a points machine if the past is anything to go by, certainly one who is as entertaining, I don't think we always appreciate what we have. I do concede that compared to a Prop or an HB it's not as physical or as mentally taxing being on the wing, but you can only be the best at what you are and he certainly is one of those.

I think one area that he has improved is the yardage after contact early in the tackle count. He’s consistently making the valuable yards and rarely gets pushed back. His workrate is impressive too. He was helping out the right side in taking the ball up and then running back to his left wing spot vs Hudds. Stuff like that goes unnoticed but it’s valuable.

To score the trys he has when we have had many halfback combinations and centre rotations takes some effort. Makinson and Grace for example often get put into space which is a luxury TJ doesn’t often get.

Let’s face it he’s playing in the worst/second worst defensive team this year and our wingers have been left in cruel situations a number of times. Wingers at clubs like saints don’t tend to end up in those situations often. He’s just class and I hope we get to see a lot more of him.

It still baffles me how little we try to get him into the game in attacking positions at the minute, we barely even kick to him in on the 5th when in their 20 half the time, against Hudds I think a forward got tackled in their 10 on the 5th tackle twice possibly 3 times. Alternatively we have been hammering it into touch to get a breather rather than giving him a kick to attack.
Surely we can come up with some ideas to try and get him on the outside sometimes but we don't even seem to try. He's the best player and yet half the time he's reduced to being used to bring it out of our 20. I don't get it.

Up until Hull 2919 we did get the ball to him at every opportunity then it stopped.

We know why it stopped because the main architects Miller, Bill and Ashurst got injured at roughly the same time along with Tom.

It was clearly going to be at least 12 month before this machine could come back on line.

However this imho is where CC failed. Although it was never going to be as effective without all four there was no need to abandon the attacking down the left policy completely as we seemed to do. Especially when those players started to return.

Instead we seemed to panic and opt for one up rugby. As I say it wouldn’t have been as good but I seriously doubt it would have been as bad as what replaced it!

Now I’m afraid it’s lost. Miller doesn’t get quick ball, Ashurst has decided to plough on down the middle, Tupes when he plays is starved of ball and so then is TJ.

Hampshire can pass and kick to the left, we’ve seen him do it, yet now he kicks and passed exclusively to the right! Why? Even BJB our excellent second best winger doesn’t have the ability Tom has.

BJB was at his best when the opposition expected the ball to go left and then it went right and suddenly there was space a plenty for this talented winger to exploit.

Even if we aren’t up to supplying TJ the killer passes there is absolutely no reason why we can’t send him plenty of kicks, another top notch part of his game.

As I say we might never get back to what we had but that doesn’t excuse the woeful misuse of such a talent. I mean you’d swear it was malicious it’s that bad. I don’t think it is, I think it’s incompetent and that’s just as bad.

We have the skills, both Miller and Rocky have shown that. We can win up front as shown on Thursday. We need to get out of the negative mind set we’ve been in these past 18 month, stop feeling sorry for yourself Chester and co and unleash the beast!!!

He's missing those early balls, especially from Tupou. Plus, he's very much a marked man and we need to exploit this and use some of the space left inside. The threat and fear of what he can do, should leave space for others to exploit.

The intercept for BJB’s second try was insane.

Who knew we had such a devastating broken field runner. I suggest we work on getting him in open space more often.

:

In the latest England squad. But are England playing any fixtures this year?

Not in team again tonight is that the last we will see him in our shirt?

Bit of a leap but who knows.

Truth is Covid will have devastated our finances. Since MC arrived we’ve stopped being a selling club but this lad may get us offers we simply can’t refuse.

Neither was Max or Westerman or Miller.
Are we selling them all?

Just my thoughts but perhaps kept Tom out so he can for train with the International squad

While I would love to see TJ stay as I believe he has to be one of the worlds best finishers when given the chance I also feel the same about Kelepi Tanginoa. We have some key players that we need to build around but the vultures will be circling

Do any of those have any monetary value?

Yes. As o say you’ve made a huge leap.

If I err to guess I’d say big Dave if your man on the move.

If TJ wants out he’ll get it I’m sure but it’s not a given.

Those who I suspect are going are

Walker
Green
Koppy
Gigot
Kay
Brough (whose already left in truth)

Battye I hope not.

Green and especially Koppy down to age.

Few others maybe.

Of course I could be miles out.

Isn't Gigot signed up til the end of next season ??
Not sure about the rest though.

Only BJB, Kopczak & Gwaze are out of contract, the rest would need some wheeling & dealing to move on. It’s not impossible but given we will hardly have pots of spare cash lying round for paying people of or subsidising wages this year then it won’t be easy.

Would be upset to see TJ go. Such an exciting player. I know players have a short shelf life and he needs to think about his future, but he is such a star. Hope we can hang on to him.

Vastman hope you are right those players are too old or not good enough to replace what we got Batty hope he stays

I'm not sure what value clubs would place on TJ.
He is absolute world class player but he's had two major layoffs with knee injuries and others on top if that.
No club in NRL need him that badly and I'm not sure who in Super League would take the risk unless his contract ws up.
All of which works in our favour until his contract is up.

Don’t agree regards the injuries, don’t think clubs view it that way.

Also and I’m sure some expert on here will tell me otherwise but I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that these ACL repairs if they go well are better than new.

Also Toms ability to score tries that really aren’t on gives him great value in any league,

I don’t know but especially after Canberra’s recent success with English players I reckon their will be a few bidders.

I suppose it depends on the deal and what the player wants but I’m sure these things can be achieved.

I think Chester said he wants 4 or 5 new faces, for that to happen I reckon it needs at least the same going the other way.

I wouldn't say better than new, but the recovery and success rate following an op - or ops in TJ's case - is excellent.
Its the case for all sports now.
I'd have to say that Tom looks just as quick too.