Sad isn’t it. The problem is that fans always try and compare. Wigan fans reply with “He’s not as good as Tomkins is/was” Saints fans say “SOL wasn’t a patch on Sculthorpe”



Quite why there is a need to do this I don’t know. Different eras. Whether fans think Welsby is an “a**e” or not shouldn’t detract from his qualities as a player.



For what it’s worth I can’t think of him celebrating mistakes and rubbing peoples heads in many games other than those involving Wigan. Naturally with the abuse he gets from the crowd, he gets riled and gives it back.



I think he’s arrogant in a confident way on the pitch but he’s quite unassuming in interviews to be fair.



As I say I honestly feel that if he was from anywhere other than Wigan, he would be given more praise.

Plenty of Saints, Wire, Leeds players not from Wigan that people can't stand.



No arguments on his qualities though.

as I wigan fan I second it to be fair

and his somewhat disliking amongst Wigan fans is a consequence of his skill.



Now to wash my mouth out with soap….

Reckon he'll end up at 6 when Lomax goes, he's got the skills for there and I think he'll be more comfortable defending there, bit of the opposite to Field, Jai doesn't seem to have the physicality to defend in the middle but when someone breaks through against us I've never any doubt that Field will make the tackle, his technique is exceptional were as Jack looks like he could get turned inside out by anyone with a step

Welsby is world class and as naturally gifted as any British player that has come through in a long time. Yes he's arrogant during games and that may trip him up at some point. But in fairness to him he's much more reserved and sporting during interviews.

I’ve said similar on here. I think he’d be even better at 6. Defensively he’s not outstanding and also under the high ball.

The problem is that he would have to do a lot more defending. Teams will push a lot of traffic his way. Anyway, it will not be an issue is Saints don’t offer him marquee money quickly.

To be fair, you claimed that Wigan should be playing field on the wing. This clearly means you know absolutely nothing about rugby league.

Jack is a fine player and definitely one of the best in SL but he ain’t no Tomkins yet. I have said it before Tomkins is probably the best full back I have seen at Wigan and I have watched them a long time.

He isn’t and won’t ever be another Tomkins because he doesn’t have the pace. He’s far from slow but Sam was electric in those first few seasons. I’d say Welsby picks a pass better than early Sam Tomkins (but Tomkins has developed ten fold on that due to losing that pace) but he’s well behind in terms of individual threat. Realistically I think Tomkins started at 6 but made the right move to go in to 1, whereas I think Welsby should go the other way. We’d then probably compare him more to guys like Williams, Lomax or actually a comparison to a modern day Sam Tomkins would be more apt. He is now a quicker version of the Sam Tomkins we see playing today.