Sinfield used to defend fourth man in when he played loose and we had Burrow and Mcguire in the halves. All that's changed for Leeds now they play Burrow at hooker, Mcguire and half and Sinfield at SO is that he plays three in, having swapped with the centre. Burrow and Mcguire play 2nd man in. With anyone else other than Burrow at hooker for Leeds, the hooker plays in the middle and the two halves play 2nd man in, inside the winger and outside the centre.
England could play the same formation: A half and Burrow on one side of the defence and the other half the other side. It's no different to what teams used to do when they had a pivot at loose forward.

Where's all this McCollorum is an 80 minute player come from? Hasn't he spent most of his career being spelled with Tommy L, and Logan Tomkins?

McIllorum has been terrible so far. His distribution is far too slow and he cant scoot from DH. Roby to start with Burrow as teh impact player. Anyone who says Burrow cant defend hasnt seen him play. He is one of the best tacklers in the game

Think Roby started off sharing hooker role with Cunningham.

Positions 8 -17 in no particular order

Graham
Roby
S.Burgess
G.Burgess
Westwood
Hill
O'loughlin
Burrow
Ferres
Mossop

In 2012 Tommy Leuluai was at scrum half for half a season and injured for the other half so McIlorum played 80 minutes most weeks and had his best ever season. He has been rested and rotated this year up until the play offs when he played 80 minutes each week and it was probably the best little patch of his career he has put together.

This thread confirms to me he's the most under-rated player in superleague. That's coming from somebody who wouldn't pick him in the next two games but he must be. There is only James Roby ahead of him in the British game IMO and even he has been outplayed in the vast majority of games when facing McIlorum (as have the whole Saints team to be fair). The things he brings to a team won't add short term impact though so playing him for 20 minutes here and there just won't work.

He's is (well was now Tomkins has gone) the 3rd most important player in the double winning Wigan team after O'Loughlin and Sam Tomkins so he's not all bad.

Burrow

Agreed. Yes he might struggle to stop SBW close to our line, who will stop him on his own. Burrow is our best tackler and could be the game changer we badly need.

Surely you mean the most over rated player in SL? He's hopelessly outclassed at this level

Clearly not. The guy is a huge part of our team and can console himself after any criticism he gets by having a look at all his winners medals. These are medals he played a huge part in winning as well. He's a terrific player as everyone at Wigan knows.

He's going through what Sean O'Loughlin went through a few years back where people who see him in 20 minute bursts decide to criticise him. Like Lockers he's good enough to prove people wrong given the chance.

I haven't read through all the pages but I would say neither. Play Roby for 80 minutes, he can handle the work load and if there is an injury Sinfield can cover. Two props and two back rowers on the bench. Ablett can cover the backs if required

If I had to choose between Roby starting and Burrow from the bench or McIloram starting and Roby from the bench, I would go with the former

Way off topic. But wasn't it Craig Bellamy who gave Widdop his debut at Melbourne? I'll believe his view of the "hype" thanks

I don't think you can compare an NRL coach trying to build a first grade squad under a salary cap limit to an international squad. I also expect Bellamy didn't choose to lose Inglis from the Storm and you can't put his exit down to the coach not rating him

I'd use Roby for 80 minutes and go big on the bench. There doesn't need to be a hooker or half on the bench for the sake of it. We know the Chase and Sinfield partnership isn't working but a semi-final against NZ isn't the time to start trying new combinations, that should have already happened against Ireland and Fiji, but didn't. Bringing Widdop or Burrow on off the bench isn't going to all of sudden swing things in our favour, we need the combinations to be working for 80 minutes, not start disrupting things by moving players around in the key positions.

My line-up versus NZ would be:

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Chase
Sinfield
Hill
Roby
Graham
S Burgess
Ferres
O'Loughlin

Westwood
G Burgess
Mossop/T Burgess
Ablett

Farrell isn't an impact player and Ablett offers cover if there are injuries in the backs, so I've given him the last bench spot.

No but he kept last season best SL stand off Brett Finch out of the side. I'd also say the fact St George have spent a huge sum on Widdop would suggest he is highly thought of down there.