Kicking on the last tackle is a weapon, so much so that a lot of teams don't even try to score in their allotted tackles. Last tackle kicks are an attacking option. They can help you score a try or maintain possession. Getting to the kick does not equal failure. Being out of position to defend one does.
I don't remember the instances you mention, I do remember one when Tomkins was up in the line for no reason on 4th or 5th tackle and a try was conceded from the ensuing kick. The reason that caught my eye is cos I can't remember any other fullback making that sort of blunder, it just doesn't happen in the NRL.
Your state that: I'm ok with Tomkins defending up in the line. That formation has led to the teams best defensive run in the comp.
Which implies that it's an actual tactic to have no fullback defending kicks. Lucky none of the other fullbacks and coaches know about this new tactic, let's keep it a Warriors play.
Well. We are getting into semantics here.....bit of hair splitting. Clearly it is preferable that the line is intact on the last without requiring Tomkins to fill gaps.
The fact is ( and this is where I don't have a problem with Tomkins filling gaps as they appear even if we get caught at the back ) the Warriors had the 16th poorest defence this year.
That suggest ( and there is the years of watching the Warriors leak ) that their line was anything but intact....there are gaps that appear that need plugging.
To my mind it is the role of the Fullback to read the play.....scramble ( which is why it is called scrambling defense ) and plug gaps as of priority .....otherwise you are screwed before you even start grumbling about where was the Fullback when the ball is kicked......someones already strolled through the yawning gap and dotted down........
Kicking is an offensive weapon , I agree with that , but running through a gap and scoring has a much higher degree of certainty ergo threat to the Warriors were it left to the line defenders to close.
There are no absolutes......it is a situation by situation call, the right decision in every such scenario is to close the hole first....worry about a kick in behind second.
This whole discussion came about out of two specific incidents.
One he was Twenty meters away making a tackle when the Dogs put Graham over on the next play......thereby it was humanly impossible for anyone to get there from Tomkins position.
The other as someone pointed out involved Tomkins coming up to fill a hole for an injured player.....thereby we got done by a kick.
I think our massive improve in defending is primarily driven by attitude and good defensive reads.
We are going very well there , which suggests the holes are being plugged , the scramble and good reads are happening , over seven games. That's the real story.
