The problem in the 4 nations was the team was too structured for the likes of Tomkins & Chase to really shine, not to mention everything seemingly HAD to go through Sinfield, with players like Chase & Tomkins you want to be playing a more off the cuff style, play with freedom and not boring structured and predictable rubbish the Aussies handled with ease.

I wasn't impressed with Chase when he played for England, and I was even less impressed with him in the Cup tie at Fev. Fev contained him absolutely, so absolutely that he lost his rag and broke Ropati's jaw. The first time I saw Tomkins play for England at Elland Road in 2009 I was very impressed, he and Burgess combined brilliantly. The problem was that neither they nor the team could do it for 80 minutes.
Sinfield is probably the best all round footballer we have in this country. The England problem (IMO) as someone else said is the coach who doesn't know his from his elbow.

Forget Super League, Wigan v Saints derbys, Grand Finals, Challenge cup finals and internationals.....




A true test of a world class player seems to be against Featherstone Rovers on a muddy pitch.

Not sure how this thread ended up including Chase - for me he's nowhere near the same class as Tomkins.

Shotgun or Sniper

So long as it's Wellens shooting him. With his speed, Sam will have retired.

It's easy according to the woman that was standing behind us on Friday, just don't let him run with the ball...

Probably the most viable suggestion on here.

You're correct, few teams put up the high bomb against Tomkins with any consistency. It's still a weakness for him and something that isn't exploited.

His cross field running causes havoc amongst SL defences, but I don't think it would have the same effect in the NRL. Their defences are far more disciplined and less likely to have players dragged out of position. He would probably still have his moments, but I can't see him running amock over there like he does here. In short keep to the gameplan and you're defence is only as strong your weekest link, and it's usally a mental weakness that lets you down (too many weak links in SL).

Correct.

Players in SL hang off him out of some sort of undeserved admiration.

No such courtesy from the Aussies who showed he was far from the talent SL makes him appear.

1 up top and 1 round the legs.

Organise a friendly for the Barbarians?!

and stick him out on a wing where the overside inside of him could look right to pass! oww actually yeah he did score didnt he.

Tomkins would be a success in the NRL and I can't see how anyone can say different.

do you have any proof of this? i have proof your talking poopie, go to a very famous video site type in 'sam tomkins- limitless' 1.35 and onwards.

edited: and 3.48 mins


yeah he doesnt play amazing all the time against aus but either do the same english players in the nrl who look very good.

You do not know how he would go unless he goes.

I doubt many NRL Clubs would play him at Fullback, more likely he would be asked to play in the Halves and developed in that role.

Looking at that long clip he runs 10 meters and beats one of the biggest Centres in the game (Inglis) and throws two really good flick passes against Australia.
I thought it was going to be Sam carving up the Oz team in broken play.....

According to one site he has played 111 games and scored an amazing 87 tries.
Five of those games were Tests against Australia.

Using that logic, better than most teams in SL...

re-watch the first game against aus in the last 4nations and then tell me he didnt have a good game, but he did have an average game in the next one against aus but so did all of the england team.

He has both the skill and attitude to make it a success. How successful I don't know but he could start on a weekly basis in the NRL I'm sure of that.

Fev for SL

Send him to the NRL or Union. He's nothing but an odious little pr**k.

Informative as usual

well, it is your specialist subject.