before everyone jumps on my back sam tomkins has played superb in nearly every game hes played in, but theres one thing what where missing and thats a good playmaker, i really think tonight that if we had a smith or a barrett we could of put a few points on saints. yeah sam has the pace the defence but as yet he doesnt have that little bit of vision to put a good line runner through a gap,

really well with how we played effort cant fault it but it was just soo close

Wow. You must be really stupid. Tomkins is already 10 times the player the Barrett was when he played for us.

Rumours went round last week that Danny Brough had been spotted at Orrell in talks with Noble. If he'd have been in the side tonight at 7 we'd have got more then 6 points imo.

I rate Brough quite highly and think he'd thrive at a bigger club.

Maybe he needs some runners, or a scrum half?

Not needed. I understand the point the OP is trying to make. Tomkins deserves all the credit he's getting at the moment but he still strikes me as an off the cuff runner who also happens to be a good kicker.

Put him alongside a orgainser and creater and we're really onto something.

You mean instances like his offload into space to put a player in for a try the other week. Or his short kicks close to the line or his link up play in a passing move?

Or does none of that count as more than just being a runner?

Your really trying to suggest Tomkins is not creative? Wow.

im stupid m8 do you realise how good barrett is

I think what he's trying to see is that he actually needs another halfback with him to share the work and all those other things, instead of sticking a world cup winning 9 at 7 and saying here go play scrumhalf, the best coach in the world Bennett saw it that way but are genius of a coach doesn't.

He's creative through his sheer presence and danger when the ball is anywhere near him but i want to see a player with abit of nous close to the opposition line alongside him.

Leuluai is a fine player but he took wrong options time and again tonight and possibly showed he's not quite there as a top class 7 when the games are at their tightest.

Brough would have pulled the strings tonight imo taking the pressure off Tomkins. He'd pin teams in their halfs with his kicking game allowing Tomkins a better field position from which to work.

I'm trying to remember how good he was when he played for us...I'm actually struggling. Tomkins is far more exciting to watch not to mention more inventive.

Iv already said about wanting Brough after his performance against Saints the other week.

He loves to talk to the team and organise and thats just what we need. Plus he has always had a great tactical kicking game, whichever club he's been at.