for a while now i have looked at Mcguire and thought he would make a good full back. I dont think he has ever played at 1 but from watching leeds games on sky the majority of mcguires trys tend to be by his ability to read the game and anticipate the breaks and are from a supporting role rather than creating something for himself or others.( granted this is just the sky coverage so dont see leeds week in week out) The question would be his one on one defence and positional play. Sam has the pace, vision, and creativity to make opportunities for himself and others which for me makes him a better 6 than mcguire. i also think that sam has much more tenacity than mcguire. of course this is hypothetical but i would be intersted to see
1.mcguire
6.sam
7.kyle

Mcguire has impressed me in his defence from what ive seen and bulked up a bit more, putting some decent hits in, so dont see him having a problem as a full back. sam and kyle caused so many problems last year for the aussies, mcguire for me never really ever performed against the aussies, whereas sam was superb, being at full back will make him an easier target and feel we may lose something creativity wise with mcguire at 6 which is paramount if we even want to come close to them

9k home fans against the champions.

We got 18k against a team with no away support.

Bought Four Four Two this month & there's a feature on season ticket prices. A Latics spokesman told the magazine that theirs are so cheap because they are in a predominantly rugby league town

This makes me smile.

Quote ="lothlorian"the majority of mcguires trys tend to be by his ability to read the game and anticipate the breaks and are from a supporting role rather than creating something for himself or others'" Compare McGuire and Tomkins: www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 Both have the same number of try assists (contrary to the view that McGuire only supports), make a similar number of tackles, the same number of clean breaks McGuire has 9 more tries, more metres, more carries, but more than twice as many errors (although has played a game less) Tomkins has 45 more tackle busts, more kicks, fewer missed tackles, but has conceded twice as many penalties. Very little in it.

Quote ="lothlorian"the majority of mcguires trys tend to be by his ability to read the game and anticipate the breaks and are from a supporting role rather than creating something for himself or others'" Compare McGuire and Tomkins: www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 Both have the same number of try assists (contrary to the view that McGuire only supports), make a similar number of tackles, the same number of clean breaks McGuire has 9 more tries, more metres, more carries, but more than twice as many errors (although has played a game less) Tomkins has 45 more tackle busts, more kicks, fewer missed tackles, but has conceded twice as many penalties. Very little in it.

Quote ="Exeter Rhino"Compare McGuire and Tomkins: www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 Both have the same number of try assists (contrary to the view that McGuire only supports), make a similar number of tackles, the same number of clean breaks McGuire has 9 more tries, more metres, more carries, but more than twice as many errors (although has played a game less) Tomkins has 45 more tackle busts, more kicks, fewer missed tackles, but has conceded twice as many penalties. Very little in it.'" Problem is - it's the errors and missed tackles that have crucified McGuire on occassions at test level.

Quote ="Exeter Rhino"Compare McGuire and Tomkins: www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 Both have the same number of try assists (contrary to the view that McGuire only supports), make a similar number of tackles, the same number of clean breaks McGuire has 9 more tries, more metres, more carries, but more than twice as many errors (although has played a game less) Tomkins has 45 more tackle busts, more kicks, fewer missed tackles, but has conceded twice as many penalties. Very little in it.'" Problem is - it's the errors and missed tackles that have crucified McGuire on occassions at test level.

Stats are a horrible foundation when making an argument about a pair of backs. With forwards it's pretty simple, more metres and more metres per carry along with good defencive stats clearly show how good a forward is. With backs surely it is also more about their passing and pace along with how many oppetunities they can create, and also for the halves it is about their organisational skills. None of which can really be measured.

I think it's pretty fair to say both are good players but Tomkins certainly has more of a cutting edge to be a potential top player at International level.

Maguire is a terrible defender and can go missing in big games. Tomkins has proved numerous times this year that he is hard as nails.

I know this stat presents a picture but

I must admit I am a bit detatched from the North West scene these days but are there many wigan sports fans that go to both the football and the rugby or are you pretty much one or the other ?

I would be interested to know

detached you say?

i would rather have sam in the saints team than kyle, sam has that aggresive side to him like both his older and younger brother, they both have speed maybe kyle is abit stronger but i would rather have an aggresive person than a stronger person thats what i think makes sam a better all round player

I support only one team.

I heard under 2k have season tickets with both teams.

Yeah I moved up to Scotland around 15 years ago and at that time the latics were well down the leagues so it was never really an issue.

Is that ok ?

Tomkins and eastmond are both top class players.

They should be englands halfbacks in oz for the four nations.

It's hard to say who's the better as they are both very good players and still very young.

I just can't pick who i think is the better player from the two.

My thoughts exactly, Tomkins and Eastmond are more creative and explosive at the first sniff of a gap. Myler is a bit like Mcquire more of a support player.

Theres a famous saying in Wigan, that's been going around for decades:

[i"If the latics were playing in my back garden, I'd shut the bloody curtains".[/i

Still true to this day.

Approx 700, surprised is so high myself, I only know 1................Conroy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I only know 1 too, my brother! In all honesty, I think he goes more to watch Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool etc. Hardly ever went until a couple of years ago. He's watched Wigan rugby all his life ( almost 50 years).

I can proudly say I've only seen Latics play a couple of times - in the non-league days of the early 70's.

I do find watching football so tedious - hardly ever watch games on Sky.

One thing that annoys me is you have to pay a lot for your Sky subscription - most of which goes to financing football clubs and their overrated/overpaid players.

Great pity you just can't subscribe to Sky rugby league games - at a greatly reduced cost!

Tomkins is as yet nowhere near the finished article. He needs to develop his game a lot to be international class or in 5 years we'll be having conversations about his weaknesses in exactly the same way as with McGuire.

As for internationals, I'd go for Tomkins/Eastmond at halfback and pick Widdop at fullback. That lad is class, and would be a starter in any SL side. Longer term he and Tomkins may switch roles (1 and 6) for England, but we need to pick him as he is definitely a player who strengthens England. McGuire would be back up halfback, and just to add more oil to the fire I'd ask Leon Pryce to play in the centres.

I agree he is nowhere near the finished article, but how frightening is that?!

TBF to Saints, they did ship Longy off when he became too old and too injury prone...nice pension nest egg with little work



On the Eastmond / Tomkins debate from a neutral, both brilliant attacking players and Englands half backs for years ahead. Having witnessed the Tomkins show on sunday ......he was awesome TBF.

True to an extent, but we won't be talking about basics like excessive handling errors and missed tackles which, despite all his other excellent attributes, are staples of McGuires game - even in this great season he is having.

How can you say he isn't 'international class' when you say you would pick him for England against the Aussies? Tomkins may not be world class just yet, but a lad who the Aussies will surely be targetting as a key player for England must be at least international quality.

Myler has a lot to learn. Mcguire shouldn't be anywhere near the england side. Widdop FB, Tomkins and Eastmond at HB

Eh? Tomkins isn't international class, but he's in your international side?

eastmond isnt soft, he broke his ankle against barrow early on, then we brought him back to early, ablett landed funny on the same ankle and damaged it again, then we brought him back to early again and he hurt his same ankle again

AKA injury prone