Re: The "Switcheroo" : Wed Mar 07, 2018 6:34 pm  

moto748 wrote:

Well, except preparedness to take the ball into contact...

Just as an example, I don't think Escaré has it in his game to pull off a pass like Sam did to Bateman against Widnes. I always feel more confident something will happen when Sam joins the line from fullback than when Escaré does.

Re: The "Switcheroo" : Wed Mar 07, 2018 6:39 pm  

If anyone listened to Talksport 2 earlier, SW was on there discussing where he sees Sam in the team (amongst other things) and he stated clearly he sees him as a FB and NOT a HB. This silly Escare/Tomkins/Powell merry go round is here to stay.

Re: The "Switcheroo" : Wed Mar 07, 2018 8:35 pm  

Geoff wrote:

Pretty sure that's what he's been told to do.

Are we seriously still trotting that old line out?

If we're looking to protect our FB, how come Escare takes it in? Or do we just have a marquee player so brittle he is forbidden to take the ball into contact?

Re: The "Switcheroo" : Wed Mar 07, 2018 11:26 pm  

JWarriors wrote:

Just as an example, I don't think Escaré has it in his game to pull off a pass like Sam did to Bateman against Widnes. I always feel more confident something will happen when Sam joins the line from fullback than when Escaré does.

Hey, I don't disagree! It's not so long ago since ST was a world record transfer fee. You don't become a bad player overnight. And I said I believe ST is a better full-back than Escaré. Whether ST should play at full-back is a separate question. But I doubt Eascaré would claim he is a better passer of the ball than Sam Tomkins.

Re: The "Switcheroo" : Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:03 am  

Suzy Banyon wrote:

Are we seriously still trotting that old line out?

If we're looking to protect our FB, how come Escare takes it in? Or do we just have a marquee player so brittle he is forbidden to take the ball into contact?

Sam is a ball playing creative fullback. It makes no sense whatsoever to have him taking the ball in on the first tackle particularly when you have the likes of Tom Davies who makes meters for fun in position to take that first carry.

Re: The "Switcheroo" : Thu Mar 08, 2018 11:21 am  

I see the Tomkins apologists are out in force again

Re: The "Switcheroo" : Thu Mar 08, 2018 12:05 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Sam is a ball playing creative fullback. It makes no sense whatsoever to have him taking the ball in on the first tackle particularly when you have the likes of Tom Davies who makes meters for fun in position to take that first carry.

And I would say to that, if taking it into contact is good enough for Billy Slater (and many others)....

And, of course, we're not talking about 'every time'. Just sometimes.

Re: The "Switcheroo" : Thu Mar 08, 2018 12:49 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Sam is a ball playing creative fullback. It makes no sense whatsoever to have him taking the ball in on the first tackle particularly when you have the likes of Tom Davies who makes meters for fun in position to take that first carry.

Very true.

Re: The "Switcheroo" : Thu Mar 08, 2018 12:53 pm  

Benefits of Davies taking up kick returns:
- Makes more metres after contact
- More likely to win the floor and get a quick ptb
- More likely to break a tackle
- Doesn't offer the opposition forwards a free hit on a key player

Benefits of S.Tomkins taking up kick returns:
- We wouldn't lose time taken up by the pass (possibly negated by Davies running in faster than S.Tomkins anyway)
- Spectators will momentarily stop moaning
- Anything else?

Re: The "Switcheroo" : Thu Mar 08, 2018 1:06 pm  

I’m not fussed in the slightest about Tomkins taking the ball in from our end. We have little to gain from it and plenty to lose.

I would like to see him take the handbrake off and run the ball a little more in the opposition half. There’s time when I feel he could test the line a little more. He’s playing well but that would just add a bit more doubt to the opposition line.