Putting aside the injury concerns - how many games has O'Loughlin actually been at his best this year (or anywhere near it)?

His best as in his prime? Probably none, there might be a couple of games which I'm missing.

There are still things which he does every time that he's on the pitch that other can't do. As was pointed out a page or 2 back, he plays 5 minutes against Hull and we probably don't win if he doesn't

Those 5 minutes against Hull were brilliant - put Farrell through a gap, Bryne through a gap and created the space for the Leuluai kick to Marshall.

Last season was a year too far according to you. Remember, the one where we lifted the trophy?

Haha.. You're just making things up now. I showed you up on this once before. Don't make me do it again!

BTW it would be more accurate to say "the season we wouldn't have made the final at all without him". How come that never figures in your appraisal? Why do you conveniently forget the games we won only because he took the field... and there were plenty of them. Do you not remember Catalans away for example or is it easier to ignore anything that doesn't fit your agenda?

This season he's played 19 games so far and has averaged more minutes per game than any other middle. How does that tie in with your 1 season too long mantra?

No idea if this is true, but even if it is it's a misleading use of stats for a player who is rotated when he plays. James Roby won MoS by playing in <40 minutes a game.

He's self evidently still producing the goods when on the pitch. Sure we'd all like to see him play every game, but I really don't get the clamour to lose someone of his quality when he plays more games than he misses.

I would give him one more year, but perhaps use him as a sub at either loose forward or at prop i.e middle in current terminology.

It's a bit of on going banter between myself and phuzzy since 2007

Fair play, my mistake!

I was against him going around again. He has been an unbelievable player and ambassador for the club but he is (i would say) at the end now. However i have been thinking about this over the last week or so and ....... With the emergence of Smithies i think it's essential that he does 1 more year. Smithies for the positional transition and the other lads like Partington and Byrne also in the forward line. 1 more year, but this has to be the last one unless he somehow does a relatively injury free season which is highly doubtful.

I still rate Lockers and don’t think he’s done too bad with injuries the last couple of seasons, made the dream team last year, probably not as good this year but his leadership is invaluable as we don’t seem to have any other leaders in the team. I would be happy for him to go round again but the only problem I see is his wage,if he’s earning the wage of a star player then maybe that money is better spent elsewhere, if he’s willing to take a pay cut and play for roughly 100k a year then let him carry on.