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cherry.pie wrote:Since you've been giving Sam Tomkins a lot of praise recently CP I thought I'd ask you this question -

Back when Wane and Harris were announced as coaches you ridiculed a comment I made on SLFans where I said that Sam Tomkins is more talented than Jason Robinson and describing it as 'potty'. Do you still stick by that?

Yes, why not. Sam has made himself into the player he has become. He has taken full advantage of a post 16 growth spurt that made his leggy super slim build an advantage. He is astute / well coached to know to avoid contact, to surrender as and when needed because when presented with a 1 v 1 or 1 v 2/3 he knows the odds are stacked against him. Sam is brilliant at getting into a gap from a passing move.

Robinson was a natural at 16, several years before Sam was even a first team player. His ability to step both left and right past any defender, to beat ANY defender 1 v 1 was purely natural. Something you cannot coach. Robinson did it v everybody incl internationally and in another sport.

You need to try harder Cherry Here is a question for you to ponder. In modern RL would Rads have even been a FB?

Radlinski

cow yeds wrote:Radlinski

:exc: :exc:

josie andrews wrote:

cow yeds wrote:Radlinski

:exc: :exc:

Think they are answering the thread title, anyway my opinion for what it is worth is this as a coach, fan, or teammate which one in Sam, Rads or Hampo would you pick in your team first as FB? The resounding answer for me is Sam because for what they all offer, Sam excels overall compared to the other 2. I also think that if you asked Rads and Hampo who is the best of the 3 they would both say Sam, that says all we need to know.

TrueBlueWarrior wrote:

josie andrews wrote:

cow yeds wrote:Radlinski

:exc: :exc:

Think they are answering the thread title, anyway my opinion for what it is worth is this as a coach, fan, or teammate which one in Sam, Rads or Hampo would you pick in your team first as FB? The resounding answer for me is Sam because for what they all offer, Sam excels overall compared to the other 2. I also think that if you asked Rads and Hampo who is the best of the 3 they would both say Sam, that says all we need to know.

Forgot what the title thread was & thought he/she was replying to the previous post :with:

cherry.pie wrote:

cpwigan wrote:Yes, why not. Sam has made himself into the player he has become. He has taken full advantage of a post 16 growth spurt that made his leggy super slim build an advantage. He is astute / well coached to know to avoid contact, to surrender as and when needed because when presented with a 1 v 1 or 1 v 2/3 he knows the odds are stacked against him. Sam is brilliant at getting into a gap from a passing move.

Robinson was a natural at 16, several years before Sam was even a first team player. His ability to step both left and right past any defender, to beat ANY defender 1 v 1 was purely natural. Something you cannot coach. Robinson did it v everybody incl internationally and in another sport.

You need to try harder Cherry Here is a question for you to ponder. In modern RL would Rads have even been a FB?

Fair point, I suppose most of the things that make Tomkins so good right now are things that are not inherent but things like the ability to read the game, smart passing, kicking etc. that are learned over time.

You're right, I do need to try harder, or learn that talent/aptitude doesn't include acquired ability. :doz:

And no, I don't think Rads would be a fullback in modern day RL. I think he'd have been played at centre, then made to bulk up and moved into the back row/loose positions.

Talent is not ability. If you trult want to understand the difference read Danny Buderus autobiography opening chapter.

Umpteen more talented players than Sam have come / gone and will never be heard of. Professional sport requires far more than talent. Hence, you get a Rads and now you get a man who according to Mick Hogan worked harder than anybody he had seen since Wilkinson doing extras to make himself better. Effort + some talent is the best receipe for success.