how do we think he's shaping up to first team rugby? Imo so far he's looked a little shy of taking the ball in himself at times which is understandable because he's so young and only making his way in the game but when he has taken it in................wow! his footwork, speed and even his strength is very impressive and he looks to have everything regular u21 watchers said he had. I think using him from the bench for now also looks a shrewd move. Watch the highlights of the Wakey game and his 2 runs near the end to get us in position for our last 2 trys- www.superleague.co.uk/page.php?id=629 I could watch running like that all day.

how do we think he's shaping up to first team rugby? Imo so far he's looked a little shy of taking the ball in himself at times which is understandable because he's so young and only making his way in the game but when he has taken it in................wow! his footwork, speed and even his strength is very impressive and he looks to have everything regular u21 watchers said he had. I think using him from the bench for now also looks a shrewd move. Watch the highlights of the Wakey game and his 2 runs near the end to get us in position for our last 2 trys- www.superleague.co.uk/page.php?id=629 I could watch running like that all day.

Quote ="NickyKiss"how do we think he's shaping up to first team rugby? Imo so far he's looked a little shy of taking the ball in himself at times which is understandable because he's so young and only making his way in the game but when he has taken it in................wow! his footwork, speed and even his strength is very impressive and he looks to have everything regular u21 watchers said he had. I think using him from the bench for now also looks a shrewd move. Watch the highlights of the Wakey game and his 2 runs near the end to get us in position for our last 2 trys- www.superleague.co.uk/page.php?id=629 I could watch running like that all day.'" I like the way at such a young age he likes to give the orders and controls the play. Very Confident in his own ability.

Quote ="NickyKiss"how do we think he's shaping up to first team rugby? Imo so far he's looked a little shy of taking the ball in himself at times which is understandable because he's so young and only making his way in the game but when he has taken it in................wow! his footwork, speed and even his strength is very impressive and he looks to have everything regular u21 watchers said he had. I think using him from the bench for now also looks a shrewd move. Watch the highlights of the Wakey game and his 2 runs near the end to get us in position for our last 2 trys- www.superleague.co.uk/page.php?id=629 I could watch running like that all day.'" I like the way at such a young age he likes to give the orders and controls the play. Very Confident in his own ability.

Better than Karl Pryce

WHO ??

Exactly!

BOT...

I think Noble is playing him perfectly, not chucking him in at the deep end but bringing him off the bench into the game when the opposition forwards are tired. At wakefield he attacked mostly down the middle of the field and make some great half breaks and line breaks.

Be interesting this weekend if Riddell doesnt pull through, will BN play him from start?

He's a much better player when he takes the line on. Been a bit disappointed he hasn't done it as much as he possibly could - whether he's been told not to, who knows?

However he seemed to do it a lot more on Sunday and the results are there for all to see.

what has impressed me most is how he looks 11 stone, but puts his body about like a much bigger player.

Needs to be a shade more commanding on the try line (the one area you couldn't better us at you place), but he will learn that as he grows and learns to read the defences.

I think Phelps would play 6 so Ainscough, Roberts & Richards can play.

Sam to come off the bench.

Flipping eck, will everyone please get over this 'young player' rubbish in relation to Sam Tomkins and Shaun Ainscough?

They have both earned starting positions. And will continue to do so.
Nodding wisely about them needing protection and careful handling may be 'fashionable' on here. It's also daft. Good teams pick their best players. Not their oldest.

-- And the ludicrous comments from Brian Noble about Ainscough's perceived faults are just maddening. Work on his defence under the high ball, yes, but how about working on weak aspects of other players' games as well, while they cool their heels on the sidelines? Do Ineed to name names?

He's already a cheating b*st*rd Wiganer, putting sly hands into tackles and looking all innocent after he's reefed the ball along with other snidey little things I've seen him do. He should fit right into SL.



On a more serious point, I think he's lived up to realistic expectation so far. He's not looked out of his depth playing first team rugby, looks to have a decent kicking game and decent footwork. He should take the line on more once he gets the confidence that experience gives you, however, so should Matty Smith and that doesn't appear to have materialised.

IMO his big test will come when he loses a bit of form, as all young players do, and how he reacts to that.

Too much too soon can burn young players out and knock back their progression by years, the step up from the reserve grade to SL is enormous, as a Wigan fan especially you should realise that, it ruined the likes of Brown and Robinson to a point where they only now appear to be getting back on track.

The game is far faster and more punishing on the body that it was even 10 years ago.

He's coming on well.

I spoke to Lenagan about Sam when we were in Australia. He said Sam was expected to play 10 - 15 games this season.
He's already almost there.

At some stage he may need to be taken out for a game or two (Catalan for me should have been one)

There's no doubt he has so much ability and if handled correctly could become a great player at both club and International level.

9/10 so far.

After watching him regualry in the academy and reserves, he's certainly met my expections and more.

People have seen his running game which is fantastic, but he also has a good organizational game that we have yet to see at it's best.

Do you often watch the academy and reserves?

One of the most impressive aspects of his game has been his defence. For someone so slight his timing of the tackle has been brilliant.

Saints sent Puletua at him on Maunday Thursday but Sam handled him really well.

As BL says though,the test for him will come when he suffers a dip in form, and how he reacts to it.

For me at present he is a shoe in for young player of the year.

Don't put your insecurities onto me just because you don't.

It's defo between him and Ainscough.

Can't think of many other young players who have made the same level of impact this year in SL.

Halley is close, but don't think he's there yet. I'd say Tomkins over Ainscough, from what i've seen he's been brilliant.

Exactly what I was thinking.

@ you.

Myler will be favourite if Ainscough gets dropped again imo.

Good call he slipped my mind.

As good as Myler is tho from what I’ve seen I’d take Sam and Eastmond over him but it’s still a very good situation to find ourselves in if we put our England hats on

It's a strange position to find ourselves in as we've been lacking some real top quality halfbacks for a number of years and all these boys look like they could be the real deal.

We've got Tomkins, Myler, Eastmond and Wheeler who all could be internationals in 2-3 years time.

If Ainscough doesn't get young player of the year the awards are a joke!