Team for the derby

Quote: Jukesays "So what you seem to be saying is that we have a problem at Hooker? Not at Half back?

If that be the case then we have 2 x options

A/ Play Tommy at 9 for the Full 80

B/ Start with MM and move Tommy there after 30 or so as MM is not the right type of Hooker to be bringing on to provide some impact in there.

Don't tire Tommy out and have to being him off or move him to the HB's when he's knackered after 20 runs from DH and 15 tackles just to get MM on the field, we may as well start with MM and move a fresher Tommy there! Or Leave MM out altogether and play Tommy there for 80?
I agree that MM has looked a bit tired at times, maybe that has something to do with the large amount of game time he had to play early season with Deacon & Finch both being out?

Me personally, With the welcome return of Coley, Fielden, Hock shortly it lends itself more to 1 of MM, Tommy, Deacs or Finch missing out altogether.
For me Finch would be the misser but at the moment we haven't got those guys back so all 4 get in.
Tommy and Deacs at HB, MM starts with Finch on Bench. Tommy to move to 9 to mix things up if needed as defenses tire.

All in my opinion of course
You're right, I think it's hooker where the biggest problem is rather than halfback. I think with a good hooker in the side Leuluai would be fine at scrum half. You only have to look at how good Warrington and Saints can be and that their main threat comes from Monaghan and Roby respectively. I think hooker is probably the most important position on the field and it can make a huge difference to a performance in terms of attack. I don't think McIlorum is anywhere near good enough to match those two players but I think Leuluai is probably a little closer to that level. He's dangerous with ball in hand, he seems to be a better distributor and whilst he's not as good defensively as McIlorum he probably is more likely to hurt the opponents forwards with his tackling, which can make a big difference.

I think most times that McIlorum and Leuluai have started and then Leuluai moved to hooker there hasn't been that much difference in the way that the team play. The attack still looks a little laboured and predictable around the play the ball. I thought Leuluai looked much better than McIlorum against Cas considering both players were backing up and I'd be worried going into the next game having to rely on McIlorum as first choice hooker.

I'm not entirely sure what my preferred option would be. I do think that an attacking threat, someone who is dangerous running with the ball, it needed in the halves because Deacon and Finch are so similar, but I think McIlorum has been poor recently at hooker and I also think Leuluai is probably the best hooker in the team. I'd have thought the last few weeks would have been ideal to throw Mellor into the mix to see if he can add something to the halves but Madge doesn't look likely to switch Deacon and Finch, and even if he did it would be by moving Leuluai back to scrum half. There's little chance of Sam moving from fullback into the halves and I don't think one steady performance by Roberts is enough to determine whether he could provide an adequate attacking threat. I also thought Logan Tomkins deserved a chance with McIlorum looking out of sorts but it doesn't look like he'll get a look in any time soon either.

I'm just rambling now, but I don't think Leuluai is the best option at scrum half but I also don't think he's a bad option as long as McIlorum makes a significant improvement, but I'm not sure where that improvement would come from.