The grapes on here are very sour today . ST was not a flop at NZW , but the standard in NRL is much higher than S/L . He will still be the top F/B in S/L . As a Saints fan I would have loved him to have signed for us .
May I ask did you watch him play in the NRL?
Of course, you're entitled to you opinion, but I think you will be in a very small minority with this one.
For me he was average at best, completely overshadowed by others and had no influence on any of the games he played in.
I was surprised they didn't mention this news during the commentary.
"If you're going to strive for a change then you have to keep going upwards,"
Keiron Cunningham, 2016
Thought the way Wigan announced it was embarrassing. I think they forgot the whole thing was on TV. It might have worked if it was a big screen and Wigan fans alone, but I am not sure either.
The other thing to mention is Sky's Stevo..I will cut him some slack here, because although he went along with the announcement hype ( although chief in that was Hemmings ) he did say on this weeks Boots and All that Tompkins was a flop in NRL. He said Tompkins thought he would be the star over there but found out he was just another player.
I guess we will see if his homecoming will be a success.
Humans are more concerned with having than being.
Brother flops in Union, he flops in NRL not a proud record for the Tomkins family but the orgasmic experiences in Wigan and Sky last night must ensure the biggest explosion in the Wigan Metropolitan District birth rate since the 1970's electricity black outs. I wonder which one Baby Hemmings-Clarke will look like.
On the Back foot looking for the front one.
It might just be me but I have never really rated him.
Learned comment from The Don
To be fair Clarke has said the same thing,as i have said I know it comes over on the television that Clarke is the Kiss arse to Tompkins,it is actually Brian Carney who is mind numbingly Sycophantic off air. Eddie Hemmings always says he reads off a script, but last night was not his best night.
To be honest, after all the quips, this whole saga has only highlighted how small time our game has become.
The whole delivery from Sky just insults my intelligence. Phil Clarke hit the nail on the head at the end when mentioning how the game hasn't had a media star since Martin Offish. The fact is Phil, Offiahs celebrity wasn't created, he was a true great. Whats happened is there (very sadly) hasn't been a British born marquee player to live up to that quality since, so SKY, and probably the RFL, at some stage in the last 7 years have sat round a table and strategically targeted an individual to hype and market as 'Sensational', 'World Class', 'insert superlative here' for the british rugby league public to buy into.
Sadly, the majority of the british rugby league public can't think for themselves, take it as read that Stevo et al talk gospel, and thus we see the embarrassing scenes last night where you'd think Gene Miles had returned. Tomkins is good, but he's in bed with SKY and you can't blame him, they've made him a fortune that he clearly doesn't warrant.
I don't like him as a person but fair play, he's made some cash and will probably go down (unfortunately) as some form of legend, which I find just comical for someone who, frankly, isn't THAT special.
Have a quick look at 'The Last Days Of Knowsley Road' here http://saintsbook.wordpress.com/
That has always been the way. Every sport has its 'public figures' that get more press / people attention than better players.
Some choose to be in the public eye..Beckham..others do not..Scholes for example.
At least Tompkins is an ok player and I don't blame him, if he gets press that causes him to demand more money.. We would all do it..
Let's take Big Al. Everyone agrees if he continues he will be one of the best not only for Saints but in RL. Will he be high profile? I doubt he will. Why? Not sure, but guess he does not fit the ideal profile..
The ones I can't understand are sportsmen & woman (PC Box ticked) who are average yet get massive press coverage.
Robbie Savage & Joey Barton spring to mind..
Humans are more concerned with having than being.
Yes I watched him , but only when he first joined Warriors that was about 4 games , then the tv channel in Thailand stopped showing NRL . But each time I saw him he was the stand out player . I also reckon the experience he has gained down under will benefit him & Wigan . Also calling him names , Ratboy etc very childish to say the least . As I said in my earlier post I would have been over the moon if he had signed for Saints .
Average in NRL, unfortunately means he'll still be high amongst the best here
There is a really funny spoof video on Rugby League Banter Page on Facebook . It shows Phil Clarke singing with Sam Tomkins . Can one of you clever techno lot find it and put it on here ? I wouldn't have a clue how to do it and it is worth watching for a laugh !
Much too much discussion about Wigan on this forum.
Makes me laugh the way they are trying to re write his history. "Born nad Bred Wiganer" ?
No he was born in Milton Keynes, lived in Chorley and supported Warrington as a kid.
I think they only actually moved to Wigan when he was about 12/13!
Agree with Dom he is overrated. Extremely average under a high ball and defensively suspect. An attacking threat without a doubt but he isn't the complete player to be a true legend.