And the alternative is what? Surely that is the point. If Tomkins is one if our best half backs then he plays doesn't he?

Dave

I dont think we need to get worried about Tomkins being scared/intimedated by the big guys (or caring in the slightest for reputation). It made me laugh but at the same time showed a confidence that Tomkins has when he was at dummy half and shoved Burgess out of the way so the Wigan player could get a quick play the ball.

Absolutely no reason why he shouldn't play next week. He'll have Senior and Lauititi running at him. Let's see how he goes. There's bigger players than him struggled against those two. At least he offers a very real running threat that Smith doesn't.

I don't know if it's been mentioned elsewhere, but I though Bailey had a cracker last night and our right side was much more solid defensively. If only we could find somebody who could defend like that but offer more of an attacking threat (ie a genuine centre). It would be great if we could suddenly unearth another Carmont.

I also thought Bailey played well and I think its a good tactic of Noble to have a defensive player like Bailey helping out next to Tomkins. I know Tomkins has shown he is a good defender but Bailey is a big guy to help take some of the workload off Tomkins.

IF Noble is picking on form then Sam should start against Leeds, simply because Smith hasn't played a game to prove he's back in form.

For me, Sam to start unless injured or overtaken by Smith in form.

Sam must be seen as our first choice 6 now imo until like you say his form drops or Smith gets a shot and plays a blinder.

To be fair to Smith though i'm not writing him off alltogether. He's got bags of talent but for wahtever reason looks very short of confidence. If him being dropped gives him a kick up the backside we could get a totally different player the next time he plays.

Smith is excellent back up in all honesty.

Well no actually, it's about managing him. On form he should play but Noble has to decide whether Leeds will ruin him and take the kid backwards. I'd say Ainscough will be at greater risk though, he's very raw.

Never said all the probs were solved, the reality is that there is so much parity in the league now that we have to aim to get in the top end of the table, we have a strong squad but we don't have enough top class players to challenge for the top 2. We'll be there or there abouts as always, but this year we have depth to cope with injuries at the business end of the season. Saints usually have this luxury, I think they'll struggle towards the back end this time around.

I wouldnt worry about Ainscough playing. ATM the alternative to him playing is Mathers (as Pryce isnt quite there yet imo) so Ainscough should continue getting his place in the team till he makes a mess deserving of being dropped. Afterall, wing is probably one of the least work intensive positions on the pitch, and he seems to have bags of confidence so I think its a no brainer keeping him it atm.

Sam deserves and should play against Leeds next week

His form merits it also some question whether he can handle it against the Leeds big boys. First of all Bradford have got some huge players and he more than handled it last night. Secondly who have we got to come in? Tim Smith who was dropped for a reason by Noble and souldn't come straight back in after 1 week on the sidelines especially when the guy he would be replacing has been one of our best players in the last 2 weeks and would anybody else be worried about the likes of Lautiti and Senior running at Smith