So who would NRL fans vote the better player Williams or Tomkins?

Maloney is a great attacker and tactician but won’t defend.

It really makes me sad that Club loyalties are more important than just enjoying a top class player.

I like Abdull but I don’t think he’s quite that good, I find it strange how his career has panned out and that he’s not back at one of the bigger clubs. I wonder if it’s his physique? I remember when I first saw him I thought this lad looks brilliant, he bosses the Ozzie schoolboys but for some reason Ash Golding got MOM.
I don’t think he’s the best in the league like yourself but I would jump at the chance to sign him if he became available, still only 25 so plenty of years left in him to improve.

Yeah, Williams went to the NRL and did brilliantly, he was under appreciated here (I was probably one of those) and I think the state of our attack since he left says a lot. I don’t really blame him for taking the money at Wire, that could make a big difference for him and his family it’s just a shame we couldn’t match it as with the marquee hg rule it would have worked well with the cap. We are now also in a position we’re we are feeding off the scraps trying to find a HB.

I was told by someone at work (not someone ITK) that Williams was regretting his move to Wire and was already thinking of jumping ship and was interested in a move to Catalans. I took it with a pinch of salt as he supposedly moved back to be close to family.

If we are after a new HB I’d be delighted with Abdul in all honesty. He’s improving year on year and I think he could well excel at a ‘bigger club’.

Williams is an outstanding player but, given the way he backed out of his deal to rejoin us and went to sign for Wire 'for the challenge', i think its only fair that we should take the pi$$ at him/them falling at the first hurdle

Abdull is only an asset to Wigan if he isn’t partnered with Smith.

That’s not a dig at Smith despite my thoughts about him, it’s just that both play the same type of role.

Partner Abdull with a strike half back and he would be a great acquisition.

I agree.

On paper Wire have a great side for 2022. It will be really interesting to see how they get on and whether they can make that step from apparent contenders to winners. Me personally I’d not put it past Saints to go 4 in a row (assuming they win this year).

For me he manages the play about 10 times better than Hastings. His speed of thought,willingness to try different options and a bettor rugby brain e.g. going for a one pointer on the 3rd or 4th tackle when it was exactly the right thing to do. He missed but it was still the correct option.

Hastings could be a lot more but wants to do everything all the time and can’t actually do something’s e.g. kick. Not knocking Hastings but Abdul with the right partner could be just what we need and a player like Field could be the answer. I’m using Field because he’s at the club and from what we hear and he is a running back.

He’s an old style HB for me and just love watching that type of player at any club and at any level.

Like yourself I’m not sure why he hasn’t gone to say Leeds maybe he’s unfashionable or maybe he’s too inconsistent for coaches who only want players to do what the coach says.
On his day I’m struggling to think of any other HB in the competition as good as him at what he does best.

Good point on Williams Vs Tomkins.

It has very little to do with club loyalties (a small part does come into it tho), but I just don't think he's outstanding. Like I said in my previous post, he's good to occasionally very good but not outstanding.

I find it sad that we need to talk every player up to be some kind of superstar, when they aren't. Check out the recent posts about Abdul now, apparently he's better than Hastings...

Agreed. Abdul isn’t better than Hastings, that was a silly remark. An Abdul/Hastings HB combo would have been magnificent though.