Tomkins is playing behind a much better pack in a much better side that is currently going reasonably well.

It's not really surprising he looks better than Myler ATM.

His mind was made up a long time ago. He wanted to leave the day the National coach went back into club Rugby.

Well, young Richie is going to have a lot of pressure put on him. He's a cocky young thing so hopefully he will fulfill his potential like Andy Greg or Shaun Edwards.

I was talking to The Penrith Panthers coach a few years ago in Oz and we got talking about Pommie players that were successful playing in The NRL: and there were some very good Poms, Stevo, Mal Reilly, Ellery Hanley and Bill Ashurst etc: But he said the guy that stood out by a country mile was Shaun Edwards.

He said that at the time there were some real biff merchants (some older hardcases and big names) around at that time, and he recalled Edwards' debut saying that some of these guys were out to "do" this young Pom, but he went out, played well, took hit after hit (some legal some not) and still played everyone else off the park.

I fear Richie may get some similar "attention" in the early fixtures, and I just hope he come s out of it as well as Shaun Edwards did.

It's the old "tall Poppy syndrome".

If as stated by wire fans in the know,that we’ve got over a quarter of a million for the lad,then roll on next season. Stef has slotted straight into the 7 position anyway so I don’t know why we’re bothered.Players come players go.
The ‘Posioned Chalice’ for me and I’m sure many other Reds is the stadium issue,as this was the reason we got the franchise last year. The ‘Iconic’ proposed stadium got us the nod,not young lads with potential who’ve only just started their career.