This is definitely drifting off topic but I agree that there is something of a slight weakness at 9. I think McIlorum is fantastic there, he brings real aggression in defense and, for me, the pack seems more organised when he is on the field leading them about near the ruck. Despite this I think it's foolish to think a hooker can be fully effective if they have to consistently play 80 minute stints. The drop in intensity when either Williams, Logan or Powell fill in is very noticeable and often is the catalyst for a momentum switch favouring the opposition.
A top quality hooker would be 2nd top of any wish list I had for the squad (only just behind a new fullback/centre to cover Sarginson if he dropped back there). Ideally I would have chosen Clarke; the lad is lightening around the play the ball and would provide a spark the like of which we haven't had since Sam Tomkins (although arguably Green brought us this in big games). Godinet looked handy there over the summer, he could prove a useful rotation hooker until a youngster of sufficient quality emerges. A couple more alternatives off the top of my head could be Lunt or that young lad at the Rabbitohs who came through last season when Isaac Luke was injured (can't remember his name but he played like Luke jnr., the lads going to be top quality).

Gale's place kicking on a windy night showed us what we are missing.

Unfortunately Matty has been given a year to improve his place kicking to get it near Super League standard, and it hasn't worked. Sinfield, Dureau, Gale, Griffin, Brough, the new bloke at Hull KR, Tickle, Sneyd and whoever Saints use (mainly Percival) are better. This makes Matty just about the worst in the league.

I've been a big supporter of his and argued that he should be given a go, and with practice he'd be ok. Apart from a couple of decent conversions at Widnes it hasn't happened. And I don't really know why, because he has a lot of bottle. But the stats are starting to stack up, and I don't see a big improvement over time, if anything he's stayed the same.

Also, it's not his fault there isn't anyone else. I do believe that this extra responsibility has affected his game. I think he needs to be taken out of the firing line. Play Hampshire at full back or stand off and give him the job - would be my solution.

I agree that Matty as goal kicker simply isn't working, but I'm not sure putting a young lad like Hampshire in the team and then giving him extra responsibility is the best option either. I also thought Matty would improve, because he does seem to have all the basic skills to be a good goalkicker, he just lacked consistency which should have come with practice. But over a year on, anything more than 20 yards either side of the sticks you expect him to miss.

Completely agree. Giving the added responsibility to Hampshire isn't ideal at all. Going back to Josh doesn't seem like much of an idea either.

We are in a pickle, and I advocated signing a Stand Off for this season and someone like Danny Brough (my first choice) or Luke Gale, who is a decent player, would have solved two problems for us IMO.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with playing a youngster in an unfamiliar position. I'd guess that most players begin their first team careers outside of their favoured position. Adaptability is an essential quality for any first teamer. Besides, no youngster *deserves* the right to any role until he's proved to his teammates that he possesses a) the right attitude and b) something to offer.

When the kid has passed the test and earned the respect of his fellow players - then the coach can begin thinking about adapting his talents to a particular role. Not before.

I do not attach any blame to Matty Smith personally, as he is obviously trying his best, but he is never a first choice kicker. The importance of the extra 2 points in a tight and crucial match cannot be ignored:

In the Challenge Cup Q/F against Castleford Smith missed a relatively straightforward conversion ( ie it would have been for Pat) about 15 - 20 yards to the left of the posts after Faz's try. Instead of 6 -6, Cas were still leading 6-4 and Wigan were playing catch-up rugby. Some may argue that Wigan still had time to score another try and win the game, but it must have been a great psychological boost to the Cas players to know they were still in the lead, when they should have been 6 - 6.

And even more crucially in the Grand Final, he missed a penalty from 25 -30 yards out just to the right of the posts after about 60 minutes. And the ball didn't even go dead, so Saints ran it back rather than a drop out on the 20. I honestly believe Wigan would have gone on to win the game if they had drawn level at 8-8 - instead they were still chasing the game, Saints eventually went upfield and scored from a kick.

As Aboveusonlypie says, Smith must be one of the worst kickers of all 12 Superleague teams (and probably most Championship teams. The guy from Leigh was knocking them over from the corner in the pre-season friendly!). I repeat: Smith is not to blame, but surely IL and SW must have realised at the end of last season there was a chronic weakness which has to be addressed. He has had over a season to become more consistent and hasn't managed it.

It is not too late to "splash the cash" if the salary cap limit has not yet been reached, which apparently it hasn't according to some posters who seem to be in the know! A big older head pack leader (prop?) and a goal-kicking half back would be the top of my shopping list!