Re: Sam back for play offs? : Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:03 pm  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

Tomkins' link up play is superb from full back however, every other area of his full back play seems to be behind Hardaker. His kick returns are absolutely shocking for a full back. He's lost half a yard of pace now as well IMO. Everything about his current skillset indicate to me it's time for him to move back into the halves.

Sam is playing against far superior and more organised sides. You can't compare what Hardaker does against Wire & Wakefield to playing in the NRL.It's like comparing Chris Hills performances against those of James Graham.

ZH isn't gonna ghost past international sides so how's he going to break teams down? He'll try and skip through, it won't work and then that's him out of the game and no plan B.

Sam can jink and swerve with the best of them (I'd argue his step is better than ZH's btw) but he can also jump into first receiver, put a tactical kick in etc.

Re: Sam back for play offs? : Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:13 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Sam is playing against far superior and more organised sides. You can't compare what Hardaker does against Wire & Wakefield to playing in the NRL.It's like comparing Chris Hills performances against those of James Graham.

ZH isn't gonna ghost past international sides so how's he going to break teams down? He'll try and skip through, it won't work and then that's him out of the game and no plan B.

Sam can jink and swerve with the best of them (I'd argue his step is better than ZH's btw) but he can also jump into first receiver, put a tactical kick in etc.

Class always shines through no matter which team you play for. NZ aren't a great side, but Shaun Johnson still stands out as a super star. James Tedesco still looks like a world class player playing for the worst team in the comp. Jamie Soward, and Todd Carney look like class players in SL despite playing in poor sides. Josh Hodgson looks a world class player despite playing in a poor side, and previously looking average for Hull KR.
I think Tomkins is a world class player, but he's looked very average in the NRL, and for England, where his weaknesses have been exposed. He needs to move back into the halves where his attacking strengths can be utilised, and his weaknesses can be exposed less regularly.

Re: Sam back for play offs? : Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:45 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

The signings deadline as gone. That loophole was closed a while back around the time guys like Johns came over and Morley came back to Bradford for a couple of months.

It wouldn't be fair to the squad anyway IMO. They've had there ups and down but the players likely to be effected by such a move (Bowen, Williams, Smith, Powell etc) have always give it their all.

Thought so, and I agree about it being unfair on the likes of Bowen, who's been outstanding since his shocker at Saints. Would've been a nice option having Sam available though.

Re: Sam back for play offs? : Fri Aug 28, 2015 11:10 am  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

Class always shines through no matter which team you play for. NZ aren't a great side, but Shaun Johnson still stands out as a super star. James Tedesco still looks like a world class player playing for the worst team in the comp. Jamie Soward, and Todd Carney look like class players in SL despite playing in poor sides. Josh Hodgson looks a world class player despite playing in a poor side, and previously looking average for Hull KR.
I think Tomkins is a world class player, but he's looked very average in the NRL, and for England, where his weaknesses have been exposed. He needs to move back into the halves where his attacking strengths can be utilised, and his weaknesses can be exposed less regularly.

Agree with every word of that. And yes, Tedesco; what a player he is!

Re: Sam back for play offs? : Sun Aug 30, 2015 6:24 am  

Well Sams ended the season how he started it - crocked, its amazing how many poor judges of player contribute to this website, when GI or Billy Slater are playing poor its because they are " injured" and both have been out with surgery. When Sams playing with an injury and needs surgery he's rubbish and he's been found out.....

Re: Sam back for play offs? : Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:51 am  

Sam's move can hardly be deemed a success though can it? To put it bluntly, he chose the wrong team to go and play for - permanently in the shadow of Johnson...

Even if he could have played for us in the latter part of the season, I don't think it would be fair on the rest of the team. And some people need to remove the cherry tinted glasses. Tomkins has done absolutely nothing to warrant a starting sport at full back for England.

Re: Sam back for play offs? : Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:58 am  

I would quite happily stick Sam in the Halves to accommodate Hardaker at FB.

I do think that Hardaker is a bit more "steady" than Sam with regards to the high bomb or sweeping defense. I make my judgement based on watching both players in SL though as i do not have access to the NRL.

I dont think that Hardaker is anywhere near as potent a threat as Sam with regards to link up play or putting other backs away, however his kick return can be just as effective.

My only concern about Hardaker is that he seems like a total numpty and has not really behaved like an international squad player should.

His gobbing off in the press has done little to debunk my thoughts on his maturity.

Still, i think he is a cracking player and the best SL FB currently.

I do think that Sam will be equally as effective at 6 as he is the type of player that would just crack on regardless. Not to mention he is a superb passer of the ball and reader of the game.