Take a breath and put down that pint of bitter

Just for starters if you have ever watched us play we don't go down the quick play of the ball scoot style rugby, haven't done for years. Now and again it might happen but we don't look for it at every opportunity.

I don't need to look at the stats either, they only tell part of the story. Ive seen us in enough big games to know that when Mcilorum is playing he makes a massive difference and the tougher the game the better he is.

Your judging Mcilorum off a 20 minute spell against Fiji yet having a pop at people saying Clark isn't ready yet off the challenge cup final? Talk about stones, glass houses and all that

Quote: Erik the not red "I'd like to bet that you have and are embarrassed by what you see. He simply isn't a leader in any category (except perhaps disciplinary referrals). Stats aren't everything but you can bet that his fan club would be belting them out if they could find anything favourable about him at all. As I said evidence please. As you prefer to make grandiose unsubstantiated claims instead, I presume he made a "massive difference" against Cas in the Cup game? Or wasn't that tough enough so he was kind enough to let choker Clark have his day in the sun? So you pick the one poop or bust game in the last 2 years that we have lost where the whole team stunk the place out. Very selective there Look at the Challenge cup games last season. Look at the Playoffs last season. Watch the playoffs this season. He is a big part of a multiple trophy winning side and if you watch all the big games Wigan play well in you will see him playing a big role. Proven quality player and if you ask him nicely he might show you his jewels to prove it Read the article below just to see what his coach thinks of him. www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-6626497

Quote: Erik the not red "I'd like to bet that you have and are embarrassed by what you see. He simply isn't a leader in any category (except perhaps disciplinary referrals). Stats aren't everything but you can bet that his fan club would be belting them out if they could find anything favourable about him at all. As I said evidence please. As you prefer to make grandiose unsubstantiated claims instead, I presume he made a "massive difference" against Cas in the Cup game? Or wasn't that tough enough so he was kind enough to let choker Clark have his day in the sun? So you pick the one poop or bust game in the last 2 years that we have lost where the whole team stunk the place out. Very selective there Look at the Challenge cup games last season. Look at the Playoffs last season. Watch the playoffs this season. He is a big part of a multiple trophy winning side and if you watch all the big games Wigan play well in you will see him playing a big role. Proven quality player and if you ask him nicely he might show you his jewels to prove it Read the article below just to see what his coach thinks of him. www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-6626497

He is an excellent superleague club player but he is not international class I am afraid.
He struggles at international level because he is fixed to a club structure, the top international sides nullify his effect quite easily.
Roby is world class, is no longer a scooter and has quite a broad variety of play patterns, Clarke is still work in progress and should replace Roby in a couple of years.

By that logic there will be no Wigan players in the squad then.

I like Danny McGuire.
I think, more than any other half in SL, he is a lad who plays with his head up and constantly looks for the right move, whether it be a player retreating slowly, the defence numbering up wrong, etc. Many other halves seem driven to run the training ground moves no matter what.

I think you are correct, we don,t need any of them , O'Loughlin is more adaptive perhaps.

James Roby is the only one of the 3 players in question to be world class so he'll go.

I saw Clark at LP last week and he looked shot and way off the pace so I would take McILorum as back up and a good variation to Roby's style.

Roby can play 80 minutes at a freakishly high work rate and quality which gives you the option of another forward on the bench to overpower the Aussie pack.

I'd take all three to be honest as if Roby gets hurt you need two players to replace him.

James Roby is pure class and he proved it in the WC. In the first game he was superb and he is certainly the main choice and has been one of the best players in SL (again) this season.

I would play him for the 80mins.

I'm sure all this talk about McIlorum was said pre-World Cup and he was a massive disappointment. Imo he's had his chance and when people talk about how hard he hits then that says it all for me. He's not an international standard hooker. Far from it. Though he's a good SL player and suits wigan well.

I'm not sure Clark is quite ready yet. He needs to develop his game and he will do that at warrington as he matures.

I'd go for Lunt. I think he's an excellent hooker and would back Roby up if he's injured well

rlOPTA Statsrl are saying what most of us are thinking - James Roby is immense.

A season score of 724.75. That's a big jump up from the next best of Liam Farrell(632) and two guys touted as Man Of Steel contenders Jamie Peacock (61icon_cool.gif and Chris Hill (563).

Are Australia or New Zealand selecting two Hookers in their 17?

You wonder why England are third in a three Horse race.
Behind the times.

Clark and Roby.

Roby is a no brainer. Head and shoulders above everyone else. I would take Clark as back up.

MM is just the latest in a long line of stupidly overated wigan players.

Regards

King James