This will be picked on as sour grapes but it really isn't meant that way. Let's get things straight he's a top player and is one of the best in Superleague. A front runner for man of steel, will likely be picked at Full back in the team of the season and will be one of the first names on the team sheet for the England team in the Four Nations. I would love him at Bradford and was class tonight. But please can we get a grip. The way Stevo, hemmings and Clarke go on about him you'd think he's the best player that ever played the game. In fact Stevo came close to saying that tonight. They even at one point seriously discussed him being the best player that Wigan have ever had and came up with the unbelievable suggestion that he is only just pipped to that crown by Ellery Hanley! Bill Arthur couldn't wait to tell him during his @rse kissing season after the final hooter. I wonder what Edwards and the rest think of this when they're polishing all them winners medals?

The pie eaters are understably jizzing over him [urlhttp://viewtopic.php?f=28&t=505281[/url that's to be expected but when supposedly professional commentaters on the country's premier sattelite sports broadcaster come out with these ridiculous comments - Stevo made a sound like he was opening fornicating in the sky box on one the many occasions that he went through the Bradford defence like a hot knife through butter - it really becomes cringe worthy.

He is one of the best in Superleague he is not one of the all time greats. That's not to say he won't be but I really doubt it. Wigan used to have players that were amongst the best in the world but today's Superleague isn't the environment for the best players in the world. This was proved in the World Club Challenge when Sky's favourites were outclassed. It'll be the same in the Four Nations this Autumn. Clarke compared Tomkins to Billy Slater but subject to the fitness of both players I think the next international series will prove just how laughable that is.

It's not just him though the way the Sky team talk about this Wigan side is vomit inducing. With Hemmings suggesting to McCrae at half time that the reason Wigan were only 6 points in front was down to the fact that they didn't want to defend their line so much because of the Challenge Cup final next week. How funny would it be if they finished the year trophyless now? For no other reason than the comments that Stevo and Eddie etc. would have to make at Old Trafford in October. Every coach with a team in the top eight should play some of tonights commentary to their players as a motivational tool.

Thought it was Mcrae that compared him to Slater?

Clarke started it by saying something like "I wouldn't want to compare him to Slater" then McCrae started talking about what top full backs like Slater and Tomkins do.

Fantastic player for Super League level. But Super League is far far far from the calibre of NRL. The Aussies and Kiwis will give him far less space with the ball in hand and i can see him and the rest of England's 'stars' being embarrassed.

Plus his Defence isn't all that. But still he is a fantastic talent.

Love to see Tomkins try do a full length agaisnt the Aussies.

Come on Bradford fans - you're better than this. The boy is a genius. A freak. The best player in Super League, the best back in Super League and he's British!

If he keeps this form/improvement/performances up then he will go down as a Wigan legend and will be discussed amongst the Andy Farrell's Sean Edwards', Ellery Hanley's etc etc. That is the point Phil Clarke was trying to make.

Against the Aussies - sure that's the ultimate test. That's the highest level for the lad to perform. He's done it in Super League. He's done it in the Challenge Cup. He's done it in the Grand Final. Internationally is the next stage for him to shine. Sam Tomkins has a lot of quality players around him in the Wigan setup who are very well coached. He will have quality players around him when he plays for England, but are they as well coached? No. However point taken - the lad has so much to prove/offer on the international stage.

Someday I would love him to go to the NRL. It think he is the best back England have had to offer in a very long time. I think when his contract runs out he will. Even as a Wigan fan, I hope he does.

From 1997 to 2008 Brett Hodgson played 224 NRL matches scoring 92 tries, plus 6 appearances for NSW. Is Brett Hodgson THAT good that he can hold his own (and more) yet Sam would struggle? C'mon fella, he would thrive on it. Think you are a bit harsh there.
In addition, with regards to his defence...nine times out of ten he spot on, bringing down players well above his weight.

Lastly, it seems he perhaps has cut out the rolling around / holding down tactics which saw him villified by all and sundry on these forums. It seems to have improved his game too.

The best young british player in the super league era without doubt.

The boy is a freak. He would look at home playing in the NRL every week. He is too good for super league.

At the end of the day he is helped out a lot by your team who give him free reign to play his own style of Rugby. It would be good to see him go down under though as i wish more Super League stars would, just like i shall always wonder why Jamie Peacock never proved himself in NRL when he could have bossed it. He still needs to improve though to by NRL star quality just saying.

Sky used to call Paul Wellens world class and the the best full back in the world but he was never as good as Kris Radlinski, and never will be.

As for Sam, he is a freak. He can be as good as he wants to be, and all the critiscm he takes and all the 'Sam you cheating ' shouts he gets, it just spurs him on even more so long may it continue.

And I have no doubt he would more than hold his own in the NRL.

He is a very talented player, no doubt. But does he need to goad players when he's on his way to scoring a try?
It's disrespectful to his fellow sportsmen and there's absolutely no need for it.

Neither are as good as Michael Withers. FACT