He had a very good game when Leeds beat Saints, partly because he was clearly told to run at Hohaia, who is small and a poor defender.
This brings to the table another quality that people don't discuss - the ability to tailor your game to a specific role/task/tactic that your coach asks of you. Ablett show his can focus his attack in a particular way, someone above says he always gives Tomkins a hard time when defending, he obviously doesn't mind putting himself in harms way with a bit of niggle and he appears to like a bit of a sledge - check the footage of when Wilkin missed his drop goal in the playoff game, Albett looks like he's giving him loads after. He's one of the better interviewers I've seen, so isn't daft.

Basically he's a important player for a successful club and will(can) do pretty much whatever the coach asks of him.

Just a question with regards to Burrow. People say that his game wont work against the Aussies. I just wonder why they think that is? Burrow does what he does, yes its very off the cuff and a bit of a gimmick but it does work. He is very very quick off the mark has a great step and is very difficult to tackle because of his size. Why wont that trouble the Aussies? Its not like they face it often in the NRL, its not like their defence is set up to deal with a player like him or they have experience of a player like him or the squad is picked to counter players like him.

I don’t care who you are, whether your Dave Shillington or Shane Webcke, a player like Burrow can make any prop look lead-footed. The best props in the world are built to deal with other big strong guys, they will always struggle with a little nippy guy.

I certainly think we are more likely to beat the Aussie pack with guile and speed/agility than mongrel and niggle.

Can't hurt can it? Roby's not done anything of note on the international stage against Australia.

Agreed. Although I think McIlorum is a better hooker, I would like Burrow to be on the bench against Australia instead of him.

Plus he's an absolute nightmare to tackle without giving a penalty away (and boy will we need the penalties to go our way). Obviously the downside is that his defense is nowhere near that of other hookers, he can't handle the middle, and I doubt he could handle athletic centres (that actually bother to offload, so his good leg tackle will probably be irrelevant). Either way, we lose a defender - so I guess like Hock he's just another risk to put in the team that can go either way.

McIlorum is in good form as well as having the mongrel in him, and does turn up in big games (yes I know I've just jinxed him for tomorrow).

Tbh, in terms of hookers we'll be fine whatever we go for, I won't be complaining.

I certainly agree with regards to defence, but from the other side of it, we could realistically be playing him behind a pack of Graham G Burgess, Westwood, Hock, S Burgess, which by any measure is a very very big strong pack. We could even look at having Burrow defend next to Ablett and O’loughlin two very good defenders (Ablett as centre, push O’loughlin to 2nd row). I wouldn’t want Burrow out their for 80mins but Roby is a defensive machine, we have a huge pack, we should be able to create a combination where for 30mins a game we can cover Burrow’s defensive work.

We always seem to think our pack can contain the threats, but we still seem to get cut to ribbons on the fringes first, then lose the middle once our heads go down. Then again, there's no rule that says he has to stay out if he becomes a problem when we're on the back foot, Roby is a machine and would be no problem coming straight back on.

Tough decision, definitely no clear answer anyway.

McIlorum isn't a bench player. Either start him or don't use him. He was brilliant tonight and definitely puy himself into consideration.

last nigh game will resemble a forwards match between aus and england and McIlorum is made for that in my opinion.

Tomkins
Charnley
hardaker
Watkins
Hall
Widdop
Chase
S burgess
Roby
Graham
hock
westwood
O'Loughlin

mossop
McIlorum
Hill
G Burgess

Sir Kev will be the first name on the team sheet for every game that matters.

Phew! Can't have done his chances much harm last night, was my MoM.

McIlorum has always been a big game player. His style suits tight and aggressive games and he was excellent again last night.

McIlorum at 9 with Roby off the bench for me.

Double post.

yep... no point leaving sinfield out of your teams as he is the first name on the sheet for macnamara