Great news!

It's an excellent idea not only for the keeping him in SL perspective but also to get opinions etc of a current player. Apart from post-game interviews and internet clips we don't get to see much of current players. It would be good to get a couple on Boots n All like they do on The Footy Show in Oz. The current format definitely needs freshening up and it doesn't look like the core team are going to change so it's be good to bring players in to it.

Does this at last mean the game has woken up to the reality of Rugby Union poaching?

With the losses of Joel and Kyle Eastmund last season, you'd have thought anyone would realise there was a problem, but I've still got no faith that the RFL have.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens when the next starlet is targeted by Union, but it's interesting that two likely convertees - Hall and Watkins - have recently committed themselves to long-term deals at Leeds. Has more of this stuff been going on behind closed doors (different types of extra payment, I mean, authorised by the RFL)? If so, it's about bloody time.

Just shows how much IL and those behind the scenes at Wigan did all they could to keep Sam in the game.
If SKY contributed like it appears they have then well done to them!
The only ones against have to be those who couldn't care less if RL loses its best talent.

Fantastic. Throw anything like this at him to make him stay.

Can't see the point, this will just increase his profile before he signs for Union in 3 years time. The RFU will want to make him the posterboy of the 2015 world cup in England, this can only help establish him as a semi household name. The fact that Tomkins would take such a role shows he quites like the attention (and rightly so, he's the best player on the planet) shows he would relish the higher profile in rah rah. Fair play to Sky for trying something like this though!

Am I the only person who is of the opinion Sam with his current build wouldn't make it as a Rugby Union international? IF (when) he does cross codes the team that buys him (Sarries) will have a big job on their hands not only teaching him the rules but bulking him up to handle the rucks and tackling involved within the sport. Sam adding weight in my opinion would make him less of the illusive player he is reducing his main attribute, maybe I'm optimistic but I don't think Sam Tomkins as a Rugby Union player he is a natural Rugby League player in every way though.

I actually agree that he isn't the correct build for a Union player. Look at the fullbacks in Union, they're all a bigger build than Sam. The pitch is more congested than in League and therefore I feel that he'd be dominated in the tackle.
And of course I'm saying this because I don't want him to go to Union, I want him to stay at Wigan. If he HAD to leave us I'd rather he went to the NRL, just to prove the aussies wrong that doubt his ability.

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=514275&p=16600592#p16600592 Quote ="king warrior"This was signed months ago thought it was common knowledge I also believe that he's signed a deal with sky to do some commentary over the season but that might be gossip'"

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=514275&p=16600592#p16600592 Quote ="king warrior"This was signed months ago thought it was common knowledge I also believe that he's signed a deal with sky to do some commentary over the season but that might be gossip'"

No he isn't.

He'll still be off to join his brother in 3 years time, no doubt about it. Sad but true.

The way to keep our top players in rugby league is to increase the profile of the international game, not offering imaginative incentives to star players whenever they stamp their feet.

Unfortunately though that will take years. You need at least 6 or 7 TOP sides not 2 plus England.

True, but years is what we have, plenty of them. I've no idea why Super League hasn't been expanded into France after the massive success of Catalans and the international friendly there last year. There is clearly a market and if done properly the long term goal should be an independent French Super League rather than plowing money into British failures where there is no current market. Not that I can see such a structured and long term plan being implemented by the current mob.

I'm glad that they have at least recognized the marketability of Tomkins and I hope they at least make a proper job of it.

Even if he did 'stamp his feet'.

It's a sign of the times, really. Celebrity is king, and the way to promote RL - and keep marketable people in the game - is to give them exposure and make celebrities out of them.

It's no coincidence that RL's highest national profile was when Wigan were at the top, and people like Martin Offiah, Shaun Edwards were household names. This needs to be brought back. Not enough was done after Offiah's retirement to keep his - and therefore RL's - profile high.

Great move, in my opinion.

Just goes to show that Wigan OWN rugby league in this country

Understatement alert!!!

Correction:

Just goes to show that Wigan ARE rugby league in this country

Is he articulate? Too many people doing stuff they're totally unqualified to do just because they're good at something else unrelated.

The RFL is run by people like this, a bunch of amateur ex-players making management decisions they're totlly unqualified to make.

That's why those Stobart trucks look like they are sponsoring Sky sport RL, rather than SL. RFL amateurs doing professionel jobs.

This Tomkins thing is exactly the same. All we'll end up with is a show that's presented by an amateur. He should stick to what he is undoubtedly good at.

Without this deal he wouldn't be at wigan you got to take the rough with the smooth

Most of what he's doing got recorded over xmas time so they wont show it if it isn't right

Just pay him lots of dosh to stay. How?

Change the rules to make any the salaries of any 'home grown player' i.e. some one that has come up through the ranks / youth team exempt from the Salary Cap of his 'home' club, say for a maximum of 3 (or 5?) years.
After that the exemption to be reduced on a sliding scale per year, say 10%, so after 1 year only 90% of salary is exempt, 2 years 80% etc etc.

I'll now go get me coat

The NRL TV coverage is packed with former players who, after a bit of coaching, have all added plenty of colour and expertise to the Aussie TV experience. We also have ex-players and coaches over here who are fine in front of a TV camera. It's vastly presumptuous to claim that Tomkins will basically fail at this, without even seeing what he can do.

Where is it written that RL player = inarticulate thickie?

Yes,
Listen to Radio Manchester tonight from 7 p.m. and make your own mind up.

I totally disagree with you Cameron Smith does a similar thing for Fox Sports covering NRL games and it's great to have an added opinions from a current Rugby League player at the top of his game. People who know the sport should be running it, a lot of people have rubbished The FA for employing chief executives who have had no past or history in football.

he was fine on question of sport

Go and watch some interviews with Sam Tomkins and then come back and comment again. Thanks.