McIllorum isnt in the same league as robes, it's just not a contest between the two at all.

However, Goulding should have played centre before Albett tonight. Goulding has been the form centre this year and also has very good partnership with the on the wing.

Albett isn't even a centre.

I don't know why people are criticising Charnley. It was his debut and he hardly got a load of ball. He had a truly naff centre inside of him.

Meli had a good game. Loved the hits he put out. Scored a good try too and did some nice passing for the almost try. But he likes playing for the Exiles.

Wasn't really a game for the backs with the conditions: the three-quarters hardly touched the ball and Tomkins was quiet I thought.

Sums it up well I think.

I think Meli is in the shop window.He did well tonight.Might cost Widnes a bit more money for his services.

I'll be sad to see him go and our 3/4 line at the moment looks pallid and utterly unthreatening without him for next season. I doubt we'll be seeing any flowing back moves for a long, long time to come given the way our squad is currently shaping up. All hail the barge...

saddend of course i watched the game, also i supported england unlike some on here. yeah roby is a good hooker i have never said he isn't. But he needs to learn when to scoot and when not too in your own half yeah you should, when in the ops 20 with the attacking line set no you shouldn't. alot of times last night he lost any space for the attacking line because he scooted and passed just before being tackled and it puts the attacking line under pressure. let me guess who picked the man of the match stevo? (i really dont know) but he loves a hooker who scoots aswell as eddie "thats clever work that it really is" stevo special now eddies "great scampering run from dummy half. stevo only praises hookers when they pick up the ball and try to catch the markers offside.

but saying that i dont think it really matters with sinfield at 6 anyway.

I think your just being biased against roby.

Stevo gives non stop praise to Monaghan at wolves who's not a scooting hooker, he never shut up about James Lowes who wasn't a scooting hooker, he just loves hookers (the rugby hoookers I mean)

How any can suggest that roby isn't the best hooker in super league it utter crazy, he was also best player on the pitch against the exiles.

McIllroum will never be in the same class as Roby

He's a poor mans Jon Clarke

He's not that bad

I think Charnley was just missing Snowy. Hope the Thompson Twins looked after him.

He loves no one more than Rob Burrow though.

Clearly they are 2 very different styles of 9,s. Roby is very quick out of dummy half and is very effective at getting teams on the back foot, and needs a lot of push from teammates. MM imo jumps and attracts the BM and A only and has runners and 2,s plays and Wigan play of the back of this with to get the ball to the edge quickly.

I would play them both, at some stage of the game. Having Borrows at 9 is the same style as Roby but no where near as effective. I also agree that scooting without support looks good, but without another QPTB to get out to an edge may as well be a forward drive.

IMO Roby is a quality player who I would love to see in a Wigan shirt, but MM is also getting there. He defo should have been on the bench, he,s a very honest, hard hitting 9 he will only get better.

Cameron Smith is not know for quick scooting from 9, but organising well and gets the pack going forward and the Aussies then play of the back of this with their outside backs.

Play them both, if one styles not working we have a plan B.

Just an opinion

The thing about McIlorum is that last season he was so ineffectual and poor that because he is showing some form now he looks like a world beater. He's always been good defensively, but never offered anything going forward, and he has added to his offensive game.

It helps that he's playing in such a good team as well; that roll on that Wigan achieve going forward helps him a lot IMO and when you compare him to Roby (who isn't playing in as good a team) he still doesn't get to his level. Roby is world class, so it's not as if it's a disservice to McIlorum to say that.

Personally though he, IMO, is third choice behind Roby and Houghton who is far more effective that McIlorum.