Sam Tompkins

[Rabbitohs6]

Easily the second best fullback in the game.

Hes no were near as good as Slater, Stewart, Dugan or Boyd

 

[God-King Dean]

Sorry to derail this thread from it's purpose, but I must ask: why is Tomkins so despised. (rarely get to watch ESL nowadays)

Grubbiness? In the World Club Championship he dived on Brett Morris well after he scored & headbutted Matt Prior when he was on the ground.

Everytime I see Wigan play Tomkins gets booed whenever he touches it.

 

[roughyedspud]

he's very crafty at gaining penalties, he'll often lock a defenders arm in a tackle so it looks like the defender is lying on...he playacts abit too,going down like he's been shot looking for the penalty and he's very cocky...add to that he's bloody good and plays for wigan.....and theres not alot to like about the lad..thats why he gets booed :lol:


wigan fans "boo" him now when he scores so the original booing does'nt really mean anything anymore

 

[PaddyBoy]

I think a lot depends what kind of fullback you want. If you want a third pivot then you want Bowen, Hodgson, type of player.

If you want an extra attack weapon to score tries you want a Stewart, Dugan, Minichelo type of player.

To be one of the very best you need both. Of all the players, i'd say Slater and Hayne have the most.

Slater i'd say was the best, he can do it all.

Hayne goes missing so often they had to move him to stand off so i would say in a few years when he learns how to impose himself he will be right up there. Probably the best. At the moment he is a lot of hype and potential. Maybe Sandow will take some pressure of next year.

Tomkins has the scoring threat sorted, but needs to add the creativity and game style when he is being marshalled by tight defences. I think a problem he has is his natural game is hindered a bit by the machine like way Wigan play. Next year under a new coach, he may be let lose a bit to realise his potential.

Basically Slater is the best, Tomkins and Hayne can be. The rest are obviously very good, but i don't think they are quite the top. Not saying they are bad, i'd have anybody mentioned in this thread at my team.

The other factor of course is defence. The best can catch and defend. Tomkins is good under the high ball, the likes of Barba are garbage. Boringly Slater is very good.


Tompkins however, he is rubbish. He is so poor not even Widnes want him...

So was Slater at his age, and Barba never played much fullback. In 2-3 years if he hasn't improved, then we can make this kind of call.

 

[NRLMad]

why do league players in england go to union? Is it that the money is much more? Most of them would make the grade very easliy.

 

[roughyedspud]

money and playing international games infront of 80,000

if you take chris ashton as a example...he doubled his wage when he moved to union....sad thing his wigan could have met that wigan but would'nt cos they thought he was being bigheaded......silly wigan


but most of the players that jump ship end up coming back...like lee smith,karl pryce etc...

 

[Evil Homer]

Ashton wasn't that good at league, he wouldn't have warranted anywhere near the amount he was demanding.

 

[deluded pom?]

Good luck to Ashton he moved to a game that suited him better and doubled his wages in the process but as EH says he was nothing stratling when at Wigan. What I dislike about him is that he takes every opportunity that comes his way to belittle rugby league.

 

[Slackboy72]

He's a borderline grub.

 

[WireMan]

So was Slater at his age, and Barba never played much fullback. In 2-3 years if he hasn't improved, then we can make this kind of call.

Well if we use that theory then in 2-3 years Tomkins will of learnt the role better. He never played full back either.

He's a borderline grub.

Thats about it. Wigan fans spit pastry everywhere when he is booed saying its because he is the best. But there are lots of great players that are not booed, and some average ones that are. Tomkins is neither of these. If he is borderline, then he has dipped his toe into grubby waters a fair few times.

 

[Johnny_L_O]

Yeah, as far as Ashton goes he would be no where near the England team with the current crop of wingers in SL. It was the right move for him and he's made more fame and fortune than he ever would have playing for Wigan.

As for the little grub Tomkins (no P).... it's all really been said above. Very talented but a complete a** too. I respect top players in our game regardless of who they play for but Tomkins is a grade a d***. I agree you need an element of swagger to be the best but he has too many flaws in his game and takes things too far. Some old pro from Wigan like Offiah or Radlinski needs to pull him to 1 side and tell him how to behave imo.