Like I said, he's very important to how Wigan play but IMHO he's not a great player.

I would much rather play Wigan without McIlorum than with him. I don't think he's the most skilful of hookers, but he's really important to Wigan as a leader in terms of aggression and confrontation. I'll be amazed if he doesn't play on Saturday; I suspect Wigan will do everything in their power to get him out there.

Exactly my thoughts

In terms of rugby ability, MM is average at best.

However, in terms of getting in your face, smashing you hard in the tackle and forcing errors, MM is invaluable to Wigan. It's their gameplan to get off the line quick, win the collision and dominate the tackle; these all play to his strengths and that's why he's so important to their team, he leads the line. Put him in our team for instance and he'd be far less important to us.

In terms of technical ability, Sam Powell is a better hooker but he doesn't have that aggressiveness and tenacity that MM brings to the team.

2.79638671875:10