The 13 role is one that seems to divide opinions across Super League, with some coaches playing a 3rd prop there, and some playing a more ball handling style 13. What, for you, would be an ideal loose forward?

depends on the balance in the rest of the steam.

Wakefield put a tackling machine at loose for most of last season and tbf it worked pretty well (Washy had a few assists as well)
Usually a ball playing forward though Farrell, Sculthorpe, Hanley, Sinfield etc

It all depends on the rest of the squad. For instance Leeds could (and did last season) use an extra prop or big second rower as they have enough "creativity" with Sinfield and McGuire in the halves, Burrow at hooker and Webb/Hardaker at full back. Whereas another club who might not have as much creativity in other positions might use loose forward as a ball player rather than a workhorse.

Ideally, your 13 would be as big as a front rower, but have the handling skills of a half back. O'loughlin at Wigan is the ideal Loose Forward in the modern game.

He might be the best loose forward in Wigan, but your standards are pretty low if you describe Mr Niggle as [i'the ideal Loose Forward in the modern game'.[/i Sinfield is a class above O'Loughlin as a 13.

but ryan bailey is a class above sinfield.

Sinfield hasn't played 13 for a few years now. I dont particulaly like O'loughlin, but I can't think of a better 13 in Super League at this moment in time.

sam burgess wins hands down for mine, the only reason he shouldn't play there for england is if we have a big shortage of form front rowers come the world cup.

I would expect Hull to go with a ball playing loose this year, either Westerman, Whiting or Galea

You really need to read the posters name before making yourself sound thick.

I think the extra ball handling role has gone to the full back these days with the likes if Tomkins, Slater, etc. The loose's role is now simply a utility forward: either an extra back rower or extra prop.

Why and how? I disagree with his assessment of O'Loughlin, whether he comes from Saint Helens or Carcassonne wouldn't alter that.

At Wire we have Ben Harrison who imo is a prop, a hard working, fit prop.

It works for us to have the extra prop because we have the creativity elsewhere, Briers, Myler, M.Monaghan, Hodgson, Ratchford, O'Brien and to some extent Grix and Bridge (both played at Loose at some point too)

We have that much that we can have the luxury of having more grunt in the pack.