Some people will always argue for their guy in this sort of situation, just like when Bulls fans would argue for Lowes over Cunningham.

McIlorum isn't a player without merit and is obviously playing his part in a very good club set up.
Most would agree that Roby is still the easy choice, but what I will say is that McIlorum and Houghton would be much more prefferrable to me than the likes of Burrow because of the defensive demands of full blown test rugby.

I don,t disagree with what you are saying, Roby is world class without doubt. The point I,am making is, that I cannot see how Borrows can be ahead of MM on current form, he,s young, yes playing in a good pack, but that argument can be made about all 9,s + 7,s playing in or behind a good or beaten pack. Houghton is another good 9, however MM is a lot better defensively than him.

I like Roby at 9 for GB but we need to play to his strengths and get up he with support knowing something may open up with his pace from 9, if not its just looks like a scoot after scoot at times and sometimes we fail to go wide when we should have. Also good marker play sometimes renders scooting 9,s less effective, however in Roby,s case the markers have to be bang at it to stop him.

Both quality players imo + MM should of come of the bench to progress his development at international level.

So in a thread about Meli, we're torn between Roby and McIllorum...

Hmmmm.

dubairl is the culprit there. A major thread derail of Rogueian proportions.

first 6 posts end up talking about other players, actually even you ended your little tug with a little dig at charnley. maybe you should have named the thread exiles

Back on topic, then, I think Meli will turn out to be a good signing for whoever gets him, especially if he's playing centre (or wing for a team that doesn't make the GF).
He still looks in pretty good nick to me and if we could have bolstered our squad with a decent BIG winger, I'd have liked to have seen him stay for another year as a centre. He doesn't have the same inconsitancies there and brings a lot with ball inhand.

IMO Meli is one of our most dangerous players and the stick he gets is wildly out of proportion to his performances.

I couldn't agree more.

If it were not for the three Grand Final howlers, I'm sure Meli would be held in great esteem.

All absolutely true. Despite his age I can't see anyone any better or who offers even remotely as much threat on the market. The fact that we're offing him and Shenton, our only 2 international class 3/4s, and apparently signing nothing like the same class to replace them fills me with a little dread as to our style of play for next season. We may have been **** to watch the last few years but we're looking far, far more 1-dimensional next year...