He wasn't running with the ball more. He's only made fewer runs from dummy half in 3 games this season. He ran the ball only once more than he did against Catalans and only 6 times in total. He did catch the defence napping on a few occasions and was more effective running the ball than usual. However, McIlorum's game isn't, nor has it ever been, about how many times he runs with the ball. He did make more ground running with the ball tonight but that's because of the great work he did from dummy half getting forwards to hit the right gaps. It was an excellent performance and he does seem to play better when he's on for the full 80. Had we interchanged him we might not have won.

We seem to play MM for the full 80 in big games and are better for it. He plays better and we have another forward.

Whether he should play the full 80 every game is a different matter- too much to ask to keep that level up. Maybe our brainless coach does know something?

But, we DO have to play other hookers in case MM gets injured... We can't just bring them in cold... Maybe our "Brainless coach" realises this...

Nobody ever seems to praise Bateman he was dropping dead on his feet at the end of the game and the tackling he did was out of this world went for Cuthberson nearly all the time.

Credit to Wane for the choice of bench and timing of the substitutions. We always seemed to have fit props on the field. Lockers went off for 10 minutes then came back on to give MM a 10 minute rest. In contrast, Leeds over played Peacock and Cuthbertson. It will be interesting to see what the pack will be when Clubb, Farrell, and Gelling are all fit.
As happy as I am with the performance and result, I also think that given our conservative play and Leeds expansive offloading style, the result could easily be reversed on another day.

Highlights the need to bring in another specialist hooker. Saints are bringing in Pita Godinet who wouldn't have been a bad option.

Obviously going off yesterday you'd want Mcilorum playing the full 80 (on a selfish desire to get the best out of Wigan) but it can't be practical long-term.

Yeah, very quietly, Bateman has become our best player.

And they are normally the first names on the sheet, just like Harrison Hanson, the work horse and the engine room. Not noticed by some fans but it's certainly noticed by the players and coaches.

He had his own thread after the Catalan game so hardly going unnoticed.