Like I said before, go back and watch the game properly, your comments are a bit daft to be honest.

"The Ausies are lose to nick naming him the crab"



"Ineffective defence"



I havnt been back and studied his defensive game but I can tell you that for Lewis's and Inglis's tries Tomkins had made the tackle immediately preceding the try and cannot therefore be criticised for his defence in those cases.

I have watched the game a couple of times, Tomkins was in the tackle on at least one of the Australian tries and he was.

He was in the tackle before Lewis scored but it went through several hands and he was also there on Lewis at the end of the movement doing not much. 16:40

When Williams scored he off to the right of the play and had no part in the defence of the try. 29:56

When Inglis scored he was nowhere to be seen 43:19

Gallens try he was in the line and came over way to late 52:43

Boyd? Tomkins was walking across the field on the other side of the pitch after chasing Thurston. 72:09

Lawrences try Tomkins is jogging along the try line 30 yards away.

Is the English Fullback ever the last line of defence? it would appear not.

78:24

So your argument is that because Tomkins can't get involved in every tackle he's a poor defender?

Get a grip



Started Halls first try, played a great out of the backdoor pass for his 2nd and then set up that last try with another out the back door. Look a bit closer to home and Sinfield and Chase are non existant.

Sam was effictively playing 1 6 and 7 on Saturday. If only we had a few halves too.

It might have been twenty years ago bud but we're in the modern era now and the ability to attack now makes up more of the role than defending does.

Carmont, Finch Lealuai and Richards have been some of our best players recently. You're suggesting we didn't sign anyone and just keep Joel and Sam? Makes a lot of sense

No.

The fact he was slightly involved in defence on the person scoring the try on only one occasion was the point I was making.
If a fullback does not need positional sense and the ability to read a game and be close or around any attacking final move, why bother having a fullback? just have a random player that does whatever he likes and bobs up in attack randomly.

Thanks McClennan but I know what makes a good fullback, Australia defined the role of the modern fullback the same as they have developed and defined the role of pretty well all positions in the modern game at the elite level.
England have not been at the leading edge of the games development for a few decades or so.
Except the "ball playing" lock Mr Sinfield has that area covered.

ahhh... so because you think Australia has defined the role of a modern fullback..... that's makes you an expert.

Not at all.
I have seen the best Fullbacks that Australia has produced since 1975, often live.
Rugby League is one of the big sports in Australia and every facet of the game is pulled apart and judged by the media and the fans.

Compare that to the English game and how it is played its worlds apart.

I have seen your comments and you are entitled to your views, I just do not agree with many of them.

I think your trying to put down england best full back because your on a ENGLISH RLfans website you only have to look a the roosters and west tigers forum to see he is getting the raps he deserves. The only forum i have seen what doesn't is the sharks as they think gardner is a better fullback which is laughable!(if sam did go to the nrl i can't see it being the sharks they are the are like superleagues castleford). As sam was there for the lewis try but got off balance to stop him maybe hes positioning is questionable but certianly not hes defence unlike billy slater what was that attempt on hall and i have seen him do that more than once in the nrl. And the Trex try are you for real you would expect that a good tackling second row wouldnt of been pushed off so easy unless your a complete mind reader?

as i have said before as it stands for full backs in the world it goes 1.billy slater and then joint 2nd brett stewart and sam tomkins and anything else is not true. Maybe bowen because of hes impact when thruston was injured but he was playing more of 6 role for the side which looks to be hes better position.

Ok then Dubby you are right.
I would not trade him for Jarryd Hayne.
I am sure half of the NRL Clubs would not trade him for theirs.
Last weeks game was the first time he has looked even reasonable at this level.
One game does not make a champion.
Time will tell.

You mean the ball playing lock of the 80/90's? That position was redefined long ago to effectively facilitate a workmanlike extra prop. I can only think of Mateo left in that role and possibly John Sutton who plays 6.

I was being sarcastic.
Greg Bird is the closest example in the NRL, its usually a 5/8 that gets too big and or slow and moves to Lock (see Freddie Fittler)

Hard to spot sarcasm in a single post.

Tomkins is improving as a fb, he's 12 months in learning a new position. He's already up there with a golden generation of top class fb's in slater, Dugan, Boyd, Stewart, hayne and possibly Bowen on his day.

jarred hayne is that the same bloke who no longer is a full a back? but in aussie terms a five eight? and how could you be sure that half the nrl wouldn't want him do you make the decision for them? i have read alot more aussie praise than what your trying to make out. micheal maguire was the one who put him in the slater cat who better to decide other bellamy? ow now i get it your just an aussie trying to wind up the english as you seen he is player who can scare the all mighty aussie team.

the only concern i have read from the genuine netural nrl supports is if he could keep the intensity up week in week out and the only thing i have to say to that is look at luke burgess he was no real loss to leeds but looks very good in the nrl.

the first time you have seen him do well at that stage because the english gave it a good crack for the first time since tomkins has been in the squad.

But yeah i do agree on time will tell.

But does Tomkins "scare" or make the Aussie team "anxious"
Really?
They rate him as a threat that's it.
He is not Benji Marshall and he does not, "scare" the Aussie team either.
Its like schoolboy talk.
"puts fear into the Aussies"

Australia and New Zealand teams do not look at it like that its more about some respect and shutting down the options of a player.
There are "gun" players scattered throughout the NRL that can turn a game or have an influence on a result.
Tomkins is no more or less than that, a player to be watched and contained.

I suggest you back and take a serious look at how Australia defended against Tomkins, Lawrence and Boyd in particular.

Jarryd Hayne! Are you serious?
What's he done at international level?

Good (sometimes) domestic player but apart from a flash down the wing in SoO he's shown next to nothing at rep level.

Please name me the other NRL fullbacks who've proved themselves to be world class by matching Tomkins performance against Australia.

Dally M player of the year so Hayne must be rubbish.
The equivalent last three "Man of Steel" awards have gone to foreigners unless Chase is counted as english now.
Hayne, played out of his Club position against England Scored a Try set up a Try and had a fair Try disallowed in one match?

Anthony Minichiello several times.
Darren Lockyer, he beat Great Britain on his own in 2004
Karmichael Hunt 4 tries from 11 games against the best teams not cannon fodder. (Wales, France and Wales)
Name the Australian Fullback that has played more than a couple of games that has not proved themselves?

tomkins should have won man of steal and the four nations are proving this chase only won it because hes a very good player in not so good castleford team. Now hayne is one player who doesn't keep up the intensity week in week out. boyd is seen to be aussies next best full back some how but tomkins is a better player than boyd. anothony minichiello? karmichael hunt? are we talking about now or 8 years ago? just because you use a different phrase to me its still the same thing as they would pay extra attention if they didn't see him a threat and its very clear to see tomkins ripped open the aussies more than once and hes only 80kg it cant be true.

Jonsey just get over the fact not every aussie rugby league player is better than an english rugby league player. just look at gaz ellis and burgess, next year you will see james graham show hes class in the nrl. Infact i am sure if you take thurston and cronk out of the aussie sqaud you wouldn't win but fortunate for australia you have them talents available.

I know its going to be a shock for the aussies but over the next few years you will see this england team get alot stronger and i know you will feel threatend i dont blame you but dont come on the internet trying to tell people it isn't true.

[uman of steal[/u
As in stealing penalties?

I was replying to the clans post Mate.
I can only name the Aussie fullbacks from the last few years, Australia does not change their players every year.
Boyd is not second choice Fullback, he is a utility player on this tour, Hayne and Brett Stewart are out injured, Stewart is second choice.

You do realise that many Australian players were not available or injured for this tour, same as the Kiwis, its almost a second string side with the spine intact.

Burgess is injured more than he plays and Ellis is going the same way.
I want England to be strong it would be good for the game, no problems there.
I guess the summary is when you win something its time to crow.
When you win it more than once you can really crow.
When you are consistently the best then you have arrived.

How many years have we heard that the GB or England pack is the best in the World?
Never really seen it though, now two of those main players are past it, that leaves one good Prop and an ageing Ellis.
Are England scared to bring in New young forwards? three of the main boys were busted up that bad they hardly featured in the second half.
In the backs there is Tomkins that can do plenty in the SL less at Test level, who else?
Two are imported backs that have been developed in the NRL.
One is a Kiwi.
One is a forward that is ordinary, who has a grandparent born in the UK.
Hardly convincing is it?

Tomkins had a good game but there is no need to make things up.
Sinfield inneffective? just of the top of my head he set up halls first try and reeds try Tomkins wasnt effectively playing 1,6 and 7 he was playing 1 effectively!

Crow. Why?

Just win with humility and dignity instead of acting like an Australian.

What like the English fans do?
Every game they have come close they have not shut up.
You would think the one game that was won in Sydney 5 years ago was the second coming of Christ.
Maybe you should make your living and reside with people you are comfortable with rather than be a whinging Pommy that takes all the opportunities of a good life in Australia but continually complains about the people around him and forever goes on about what is better from England.
You must feel like you live a double life.
I bet you don't gob off about all that is great from England around your Aussie "mates"
How are the Coogee under 14s going again Mate?

Oh dear. Poor chap. Full of errors, supposition, presumption and an attempt to ridicule and belittle, which probably sounded funny in your own mind. Ho hum.