Whats your expectations for Tompkins

[hitman82]

Right now I'd say we have a lot of players "being idiots" and not enough players being super competitive, arrogant, grubby, walking the thin line of the rules... etc. Too many nice guys doesn't equal a ruthless outfit.

 

[vvvrulz]

Yep I'll agree that we have a few fools in the camp, but those are dumb jokes within themselves that nobody gets. Stupid, but its not the same thing. I can agree that at times the boys are too lax and appear to be on a Sunday jog instead of on the job, that's an issue. They need to sharpen up their attitudes.

But again you go on about being "arrogant, grubby, greying the rule book". Just because the Storm do it it doesn't make it a premiership winning template, to me that's going too far and not necessary for us. I still don't think we're far off from being genuine title contenders, we can still play hard but play fair. We were pretty well drilled during our best years and our attitudes were right, but we didn't have to play like thugs to achieve good things.

I used to staunchly support the Indian cricket team until they became a bunch of wankers, in my opinion playing with dignity shouldn't be sacrificed for winning.

 

[Fast Eddie]

I just don't see how "milking penalties and generally being an over-competitive nuisance" should be an expectation. I'd much rather Tomkins worry about his own game and his own team than trying to get under the oppositions skin.

And yes I like the idea that our team generally doesn't have tossers and are looked upon in a positive light. Most NRL fans are at least neutral about us and are happy to cheer us on if their team is down, for example in the 2011 finals we had huge support over the Tigers and Manly.

Being an annoying idiot shouldn't be on any players to-do list.

Why do you think teams are for the most part disliked or hated? It's the top quality sides for the most part. I used to hate teams like Parra when they were going well, can't hate on em now. They are no threat at all and it's good to see them get a win. To a lesser extent thats the Warriors to a lot of fans, we haven't be a consistent threat to other teams at the top of the table for long enough periods or often enough for anyone to dislike us. Kind of the same reason no one really hates on the Cowboys.

Also your above examples are pretty self explanatory, the underdog is always going to get plenty of neutral support.

 

[Skram]

Given what we paid for him, who he's 'replacing' and his playing style, my expectation is 2007 Wade McKinnon with superb ball playing abilities, aka one of the top 2-3 fullbacks in the league.

 

[ozenzud]

That would be awesome.

He probably would have got 20+ tries this season if he'd played the full 24 games.

As it was he got 16 from 19 games. There's not many better sights in rugby league than Manu in space.

And that was playing inside Nielson who NEVER passed Manu the ball EVER.

I know we all bag Wroppo, but one thing he does do, is 'feed the beast.'

Tompkins, I reckon he will go good. NRL is a different level than Superleague, so season one, might be harder, but he is fast Tompkins, can spot a hole and he goes at it.

He was a terrible 5/8 though cause he is scatty and unpredicable. All the things that make a good fullback these days.

 

[Abdullah]

Bottom line...Tompkins needs a forward pack in front of him thats gonna be making good yards and provide the go forward. I'm still of the opinion that TL would provide better service at 9...and hopefully, the Warriors will find a good half to partner SJ....wishful thinking on my part maybe.

 

[ozbash]

Bottom line...Tompkins needs a forward pack in front of him thats gonna be making good yards and provide the go forward. I'm still of the opinion that TL would provide better service at 9...and hopefully, the Warriors will find a good half to partner SJ....wishful thinking on my part maybe.

that's pretty much the guts of it...

you can have the best backs in the game, but if they don't get the ball...

 

[Bovrick]

He was a terrible 5/8 though cause he is scatty and unpredicable. All the things that make a good fullback these days.

He really isn't. He made the England team in his first season there, and there are still people who want him to move back to the halves.

He's better defensively in the line rather than at the back too, but he's been far too much of a weapon to move from Full Back in the last few years. In the last couple of years he's averaged over a try and a try assist a game...

 

[shiznit]

Defence should not be a issue...

Everyone at this level knows how to tackle... At this level it's all about attitude.

At Wigan he was a big fish in a small pond... So he could coast a little bit...

He's now playing at a higher level week in week out with the added pressure of having a world record transfer fee and marquee player expectation on him.

He will have a massive offseason... The coaches will work on his defence... and he will apply himself.

That's what's expected of players of his calibre... and I'm sure he will be ready to play fullback.

 

[MKEB...]

+ 1

 

[Rich102]

I agree with others here that Tomkins' effectiveness will be lessened without a strong pack in front of him. This goes for SJ as well. We need to stiffen up our pack or we will own a Ferrari with a trailer load of concrete on the back.

 

[Cold Roses]

I agree with others here that Tomkins' effectiveness will be lessened without a strong pack in front of him. This goes for SJ as well. We need to stiffen up our pack or we will own a Ferrari with a trailer load of concrete on the back.

x 100

 

[ozenzud]

He really isn't. He made the England team in his first season there, and there are still people who want him to move back to the halves.

He's better defensively in the line rather than at the back too, but he's been far too much of a weapon to move from Full Back in the last few years. In the last couple of years he's averaged over a try and a try assist a game...

I'd watched him play a bit in Superleague at 5/8. The commentators were going on about how great he was.

Then I watched him play for England v Kiwis at the Stadium in Wellington. He was mud at 5/8. I was watching from end on so could see how the players were..or weren't running off him.

Shortly after that, he was moved at Wigan to F/B. So he can't have learnt much about 5/8 since. People thinking he should go back to 5/8 might not know what they are talking about? Or they have to be patient to wait for him to learn how to play that position.

He's an individual player, not a constructor from what I've seen. We don't need 2 SJ.

 

[Blair]

I'm just hoping he gets through the World Cup unscathed.

See, that's the conundrum of international league and Origin. The Warriors are paying a huge sum for a player who could break his leg playing for another team.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

To help with spelling (which I'm no good at).

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Expectations.....
High when you paying $750k!
But that is only £385k

 

[Mr Angry]

Hate to be a pessimistic bastard, but I expect a leg injury.

Bloke looks brittle and it is harder hits down here.

Third year might be great as he hardens.

 

[Washed Up Player]

Just watched Wigan vs Leeds in the SL finals (Won 22-12 by Wigan)

Based on this game and this game alone I am underwhelmed

Pros
Good under the high ball
Must be a threat out the back with sweep runs (every time he put one on the Leeds Players doubled up on him creating room for the forward runner)
Got a couple of nice short passes away in traffic that could have lead to something
Reasonably strong on defence, got turned inside out by Joel Moon but delayed him enough for the covering defence to defuse. Backed off the ball carier when confronted with 3 on 1 giving support player time to get back and assist (there was still a try but it wasnt his fault)

Cons
Very poor positioning for kick returns (the ball was always hitting the grass)
Didnt back the forwards up (only pass he took from a forward after a break was a result of him being in the area on account of running a sweep line
Kept dropping the ball off to his wingers on kick returns and didnt do any dummy half runs in his own half to get his side moving (unless he is carrying an injury it was pretty weak)
didnt come in at second receiver or kick to take pressure off the halves

Like I say 1 game but if that is representative he is average

Incidentaly the overall standard of the game was poor, this was for a place in the grand final between two of the best sides in the comp and it was NSW cup standard

WUP

 

[English Rose]

Just watched Wigan vs Leeds in the SL finals (Won 22-12 by Wigan)

Based on this game and this game alone I am underwhelmed

Pros
Good under the high ball
Must be a threat out the back with sweep runs (every time he put one on the Leeds Players doubled up on him creating room for the forward runner)
Got a couple of nice short passes away in traffic that could have lead to something
Reasonably strong on defence, got turned inside out by Joel Moon but delayed him enough for the covering defence to defuse. Backed off the ball carier when confronted with 3 on 1 giving support player time to get back and assist (there was still a try but it wasnt his fault)

Cons
Very poor positioning for kick returns (the ball was always hitting the grass)
Didnt back the forwards up (only pass he took from a forward after a break was a result of him being in the area on account of running a sweep line
Kept dropping the ball off to his wingers on kick returns and didnt do any dummy half runs in his own half to get his side moving (unless he is carrying an injury it was pretty weak)
didnt come in at second receiver or kick to take pressure off the halves

Like I say 1 game but if that is representative he is average

Incidentaly the overall standard of the game was poor, this was for a place in the grand final between two of the best sides in the comp and it was NSW cup standard

WUP

That wasn't his best game but trust me when i say this Tomkins in one of if not the best player Super League has ever seen (I'm not counting Andrew Johns as he only played about 3 games)

You have signed a real gem!

 

[LeagueNut]

He seemed to go more than OK in the Super League GF. He beat about 63 players with a run off his own line in the first half.