What's new
By:
Advanced search…
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Sam Tomkins: coming to an NRL club near you

Iron Lion

Iron Lion

Juniors
Messages
1,216
Penrose Warrior said:
Last two bumps v NSW Cup sides.

How'd he go v Manly/Brisbane/Souths? Honest question, I didn't see 2 of them.
Click to expand...

He went better than Kevin Locke did when he played in that position for the Warriors.

Tomkins is ever improving and will be the best fullback the warriors have had by the end of the year.
 
JJ

JJ

Immortal
Messages
32,710
Iron Lion said:
He went better than Kevin Locke did when he played in that position for the Warriors.

Tomkins is ever improving and will be the best fullback the warriors have had by the end of the year.
Click to expand...

:lol:

Sorry, he tries hard - but every week he has an amateur mistake in him... against Canberra it was dropping the kickoff, the week before several spills but most got hung up on Manu's 1.

Those mistakes will be costly against good sides, mark my words

Wade McKinnon was stellar for a bit, I don't think I've seen Tomkins break the line on a kick return yet... not even against Canberra.
 
Last edited:
JJ

JJ

Immortal
Messages
32,710
Penrose Warrior said:
I'd hate to be accused of not knowing what the f**k I'm talking about, but you and I must be watching a different guy week in, week out.

Let's see where this thread is at after the Broncos - a team if you'll recall, he performed very averagely against two weeks ago, including two embarrassing defensive efforts on a previously woefully out of work fellow fullback.

He's been dropping pill too, and did it again last night. I'll want to see more like his effort in Melbourne a while back, rather than running rings around a glorified NSW Cup side.

And I've been defending him, saying he's a professional and made Johnson, the right side etc into a cohesive attacking unit.
Click to expand...

Profound mate, profound :clap:

Sums it up really...
 
P

Penrose Warrior

First Grade
Messages
9,467
Iron Lion said:
He went better than Kevin Locke did when he played in that position for the Warriors.

Tomkins is ever improving and will be the best fullback the warriors have had by the end of the year.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't you rather rate him against the top 1s in the comp rather than Kevin Locke?

JJ makes a good point. If his errors were made by Manu this year, everyone would be all over him. Sam has enjoyed a pretty easy run of it media/spotlight-wise, certainly more than he would've in Sydney.
 
Iron Lion

Iron Lion

Juniors
Messages
1,216
Penrose Warrior said:
Wouldn't you rather rate him against the top 1s in the comp rather than Kevin Locke?

JJ makes a good point. If his errors were made by Manu this year, everyone would be all over him. Sam has enjoyed a pretty easy run of it media/spotlight-wise, certainly more than he would've in Sydney.
Click to expand...


Tomkins has a massive up side to him that is beginning to show. He was thrown into the deep end of the NRL and took a while to find his feet. He is a very good player and provides a dynamic difference the warriors have never had from a fullback except for perhaps Brent Webb.

Manu doesnt play fullback, neither does he have play making skills, vision, linking ability and a good boot on him that Tomkins does. Manu's mistakes are typically terrible for a standard winger in the NRL. And when he has been bagged or praised he has typically deserved it as a NRL veteran.
 
JJ

JJ

Immortal
Messages
32,710
And Tomkins mistakes are typically terrible for a standard NRL fullback...

I see the upside, for sure... and while we haven't been blessed with the best fullbacks, in terms of playmaking Alexander was a whole level above Tomkins, and McKinnon, albeit briefly, was the one that really offered a dynamic difference
 
P

Penrose Warrior

First Grade
Messages
9,467
Iron Lion said:
Tomkins has a massive up side to him that is beginning to show. He was thrown into the deep end of the NRL and took a while to find his feet. He is a very good player and provides a dynamic difference the warriors have never had from a fullback except for perhaps Brent Webb.

Manu doesnt play fullback, neither does he have play making skills, vision, linking ability and a good boot on him that Tomkins does. Manu's mistakes are typically terrible for a standard winger in the NRL. And when he has been bagged or praised he has typically deserved it as a NRL veteran.
Click to expand...

He has all those abilities, no doubt. But is he exhibiting them week in, week out?

Stats-wise (and I know this can be a crock) his biggest games have been v the Raiders (twice) the Eels at NSW Cup strength and the Tigers when we flogged them in Wellington.

And v top 8 sides this year...he has one line break. One.
 
attila_the_gorilla

attila_the_gorilla

Juniors
Messages
2,137
I've adjusted my expectations from Tomkins. The more I see of him, the more I realize that he's a half playing out of position. And his strengths and weaknesses reflect that.

I don't think he's got the speed and footwork of a genuine fullback. Handling errors and slack play at the back are disappointing, I'd certainly like him to stamp those out of his game.

But in attack, with ball in hand, I think he offers a lot of vision and execution, and defensively he's coming along I think.

He'll certainly need to improve his weaknesses to be regarded as a star fullback.
 
Slug

Slug

Juniors
Messages
282
He's a terrific player and has exceeded the expectations of those that won't admit they were wrong about his ability to adjust to the NRL. He is going well and has turned the Warriors around, almost single handedly. Great player with the ball in hand and non stop energy which every team needs. He makes mistakes, but so do all players with his level of involvement.
 
Slug

Slug

Juniors
Messages
282
No Johnson against the Raiders. 54-18 and he was running the show. So dominant, the coach gave him a rest after 60 minutes. I doubt many of his knockers watch the Warriors, except against their own team.
 
JJ

JJ

Immortal
Messages
32,710
tangalife said:
He has more biased haters than biased lovers thats for sure.
Click to expand...

Think it's both tbh...

I know I am classed as a hater, but he hasn't "single handedly turned the Warriors around" that is pretty stupid.

My frustration is he has been pretty ordinary compared to what he was hyped to be... he's been largely anonymous against good teams, his kick returns have been ineffective, and most importantly every game he has a stupid mistake (and then the defence seems to be he's heavily involved - well Manu is too, in fact his involvement is huge in terms of getting us rolling, yet he's castigated for dropping the ball once in a play the ball - when in the same game [Manly] Tomkins did that 2-3 times..

The errors will cost in tight games, that's all I am saying...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top