Who? Ryan Burrows from Leeds Carnegie?

Apologies for incorrect spelling.

Typical blinkered response from a Wigan fan.

McIlorum is not even among the best 8 hookers England has. Slow hands, slow feet, slow brain. Runners/playmakers have to stop to take his passes. He has no guile. It's no coincidence that Chase and Sinfield look slow and lumbering with McIlorum on the pitch - we start most of the plays pretty much static. And the lad isn't even a good defender.

One thing McIlorum does do, is make the interchange dummy half look brilliant. 45 mins of McIlorum against Fiji, 0 points; 35 mins of Burrow, 34 points. Burrow and Roby both come out of dummy half and ask the defence to make a decision, whether that be off a scoot, a short run and flat pass or quick ball to Chase, Sinfield. Burrow is also an unconventional opponent for NRL players and earns penalties. He misses tackles, of course, but he can be taken out of the heavy traffic at right centre and you only want to play him for 30 mins anyway.

Whilst I think that not being in the top 8 hookers is a bit of a stretch, I agree he is a completely average player.

Mcillorum actually misses a lot of tackles. Burrow in D against NZ is a worry though. I'd probably take a risk and go with the latter - Burrow is at least capable of a big play

Its all very well saying you can let burrow defend out wide, but that means your halfback, who is already hiding out there, has to move one in and mark a 2nd row. Its also taking away the massive workrate in defence you tend to get from a hooker, which will save the energy of your big men.
I appreciate his qualities, but I do think in a test match, he'd be shown up.
*saying that, his best performances for Leeds seem to come in big games*

France probably wasn't the best way to showcase McIlorum's strengths. We didn't want to get sucked into any sort of fight. He may come into his own in a tough test against the Kiwis.
I don't particularly buy into the whole "he does all the little things well", theory. I think he's a pretty good hooker, but his service is no better than Roby's and his play selection doesn't seem as good. Added to that, he doesn't carry Roby's
threat.

Whilst people said that Lunt and Houghton were too similar to Roby, I think we'd have been better with two similar hookers sharing the load and staying fresh.

And can we please avoid any posts saying Roby is [ijust a scooter[/i. If you're under that impression, I suggest you have another look at him.

I have sympathy wth this but Watkins regularly defends at 4th man in for Leeds and Sinfield at 3rd man in is bigger than most other half backs. And this ought only be for 30 mins tops.

We have a forward playing at 7, he covers Burrow, it's no big deal plus if you go with Ablett to sure up the channel insteas of Watkins you have another tough uncompromising forward in the backs that can step up the defence

This has been a massive failing for Leeds this last season. It doesn't work.

You want your hooker defending down the middle, and your two half backs defending out wide, not three half backs. If you are having Burrow in, it should be as a half back, for which just like hooker he is not as good as the other alternatives, and should not be in the side.

Leeds have used Burrow at centre for about 3 or 4 seasons now.

The one big plus in having Burrow on the bench, is that when he comes on, he usually creates a couple of chances, which against the big boys, will be scarce.
Definitely worth a spot on the bench.
Roby to start.

When he has been one of the halfs, like I put, and on that basis it is over 10 seasons.. He's only been playing hooker for two seasons, and in the first he had Lunt come on for him and Burrow was only one of two defending out wide. Last season as a regular hooker, there was him and the two halfbacks out wide, which was a failing for Leeds.

I havnt watched Mcillorum rthat much for Wigan but based of his England performances he shouldnt be anywhere near the squad.

Anyone who can say he is worthy of a place after his stints in the last couple of weeks is on another planet.

Him, T Burgess and Mossop where bad inclusions into the squad and a bed error from banana man.

Sinfield is not a forward.