No one man can make a team but out of our current crop of players would we miss the most should he decide Wigan wasnt where he wanted to be. IMO it would be man of steel, Pat Richards. The way he helps the forwards out taking the ball back in , immense under the high ball . great defender, speed and scores tries for fun.

You'd miss Tomkins waaaaaaaaay more than Pat IMO.

I agree, Sam is our spark.

We make after to get used to it....

+1

Hence why squad depth is massively important and the depth we have now, we've got good cover in all positions and its the best i've seen for years.

I think he meant to put "we might have to get used to it". Keyboard dyslexia is an a*se! I should know, I'm always doing it.

What does he mean by that then...

I agree with FearTheVee. Although Pat is for us a key player and one which I would never want to see leave the club, I'd sooner it be him than Sam Tomkins (who IMHO will go to the NRL in a few years time)

maybe yawnion is coming a knocking?

Lockers. Most underated player in super league. I'm sure we would have beaten saints at home with him in the team.

You hope

lets keep to the thread folks we have enough threads about union

If we had a fit squad and all players available, I'd say Pat, Amos and Sam in that order. I don't believe there is anyone more important than Pat, with his all round defense and attack game, as well as the kicking. Amos last year was flying as the best full back in SL. Sam has a big heart and is so brave, his allusiveness (sp?) is breathtaking.
I think we have cover at full back and in the halves, but losing Pat on the wing would bring in a lesser standard player, and we'd have to rely on Deacs, who won't be an 80 minute player, for the kicking duties.

I think that most people would go for Sam Tomkins and rightly so imo.

However, looking back on 2010 i didnt half feel more confident going into games with a fully fit Andy Coley - he was simply immense last season and became a real influenece to the players around him.

For me the retention of Coley was as important as any of the three signings from Melbourne.

Agreed, will still made light work of the GF without Pat for 50 minutes.

no I don't.

what a silly, unfounded thing to say.

I regret it when any player goes to union over super league. It is, however a sad fact that they do get enticed by the $$$ (or should it be £££)

In order i would prefer
Sam at Wire
Sam at Quins
Sam in the NRL
Sam at Wigan
Sam behind the tills at McDonalds
Sam as my binman
...



Sam as a Union player.

Sam Tomkins by a distance.

Guys like Pat, Lockers and Leuluai are very important to this side but Sam is the main man and the guy we really couldn't do without.

Take the others mentioned out of our side and we would get by imo but take Sam out and we simply wouldn't be the same side anymore. He's built up an aura already and his sheer presence scares the life out of opposition teams, coaches and fans alike.

Sam is the most gifted player at our club, at this rate he'll be a Wigan great like Edwards.

Personally, and I'm gonna get flack for this, but take Lockers out of our team and I don't think thesedays he'd be that missed. I'm sure a back 3 of Hock Tomkins and Hoffman would do the job.

We won the league without Amos, so I don't think he is that important. Pat's point scoring has to be recognised, it helps us win games.

And I have to say Deacon offers a lot, his organisational skills and kicking really improved the team.

Sam
Lockers
Pat

Karl Pryce. Without him there would be nobody for fans to moan at (I'm sure they'd find someone but KP seems to tick the boxes at the moment)

In all seriousness.....Sam, Lockers and Joel would be massive losses imo.

fielden........led from the front last season , and laid the platform for pat, sam, amos, etc.

Pat, closely followed by Sam.

I think Sam is an amazing talent, his dedication, enthusiasm and commitment is outstanding. I love to watch this lad play.

I do think however that Pat is so professional and reliable and that the team would struggle over a season without him. Let just hope that he has a full and speedy recovery and that he is able to slot right back into the team when the time is right for him.

There's another player who get's little praise on here but is obviously highly rated by every coach we've had as he starts most games, Harrison Hansen.
A real grafter who does more than his share of work in attack and defense and makes very few errors, plus is very well disciplined in his play.