some of you need to take of your blinkers...briers overall game is better than tomkins...kicking, creativity, passing etc...tomkins has alot to learn and will get better but Briers is overall a player player and halfback.

Do people not check these things before they are published?

[urlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/wigan/8738969.stm[/url

O'Loughlin made his England debut in the win over France

I think it was his full England debut

Thats bull mate. And I wasn't trolling when I said it would come back to effect you.

Leeds have proved 2 years previously to this, and will again this season, that you should not play international players in both games. If it doesn't make a difference, why do you propose Leeds on each occassion have gone with depleted squads to play the required super league game?

By contrast, Saints on the other hand have previously played their international players backing up, and it has effected them when it really mattered at the back end.

Good luck that it won't, but I think you might find it will.

Suppose he has missed the last few international games...

He's played for GB and he's played and captained England A.

teams couldnt play the players before as they were with the squads. Any teams that played on Sunday could have had players backing up. So Leeds couldnt back up as the players were unavailable to do so as with Saints, so your argument doesnt really work.

There are so many other factors with regard to teams' performances at the end of the season - particularly where injuries, fitness etc are concerned - that to get so irate about three Wigan players playing one and a half matches in one weekend is just laughable.

I'm no Saints fan, but I seem to recall a couple of incidents in last year's Grand Final that might explain why they lost, which had nothing to do with fitness or anything of the sort.

Care to explain how all the Melbourne players manage to back up from SOO and win the NRL then? How anybody can seriously suggest that 3 players playing an extra game in JUNE will affect a collective SEVENTEEN players in OCTOBER is beyond me.

Next you'll be saying Mathers is better than Roberts. Your a fool of the highest order. Go back to the wire board with the other children.

I'd say Tomkins is better defensively than Briers, he very rarely gets run over despite teams targeting him.Tomkins is also quicker than Briers has ever been and can create gaps for himself as well as others. Sam sometimes makes the wrong decision in attack but that will come with age and experience. If you offered me a swap of one for the other you'd get shown the door

You mean you wouldn't swap the current 21 year old England stand-off for a 32 year old poacher?

And that is why he has been overlooked by successive England coaches including his current club coach, the very same man who gave Sam his International debut in fact. I suppose Tony Smith knows nothing about rugby either eh? Let's ask that very same non goon fan who he rates higher....oh wait a minute, we don't need to do we? His team selection whilst England coach already tells us..

Still, I suppose your reputation as a =#FF0000No need (Pemps) troll hasn't been made by making informed posts now, has it!

You see!! Everyone is good at something

same old story this must be the only board on rl fans where people can verbally be insulted just because they differ . but there again thats what happens when parants arent supervising the kids

Plus, Wigan are out of the Cup so will have two weekends off in August. It may effect them short term, but over the course of the season, I don't think it will matter too much.

Sam Tomkins is a great talent but lets not compare the two. One is at the start of his career, he other near the end of his. But also don't embarrass yourself and remember that Briers is Welsh for international RL purposes which does explain why he as never played for England.............

That poster is an idiot I agree but don't rise to it. Wire fans could say the same about the idiot called something like Famous Amos but its not worth getting involved.

So HOW long is he out for?

doubt the injury has anything to do with the fact he featured in two games on the trot on consequetive days. shame though. he has definitely been one of our top 3 players this year which i make as lockers, j tomkins and er,,, tie for 3rd!!



will be missed for the stains game but a chance for the team to turn up without its unsung talisman.

According to Forshaw at Swinley Labour Club, Lockers has a quad tear, nothing too serious but will keep him out for 3 weeks.

Shame if that is indeed true he has been in superb form this season but I am sure this gives a great opportunity to one me our young guns to come in against stains

With posts kind above, you realise how little some know about rugby league.

That means faz in to the starting line up and Tuson on the bench.