Micky Mac is a tough character. I agree with what's been said about needing a fear factor, and it's a shame we don't have any other players (Eric is learning) who give us that. HH, Flower, Faz, Dudson, Crosby and Mossop just all seem too nice. I can imagine the opposition enjoying running at us because they know they won't get hurt.

Agree on your first point but disagree on your second.

McIlorum is one of those players that never goes missing. Other than McIlorum, who was the last decent hooker we brought through? Martin Dermott? Pretty poor for the best youth system is SL in my opinion.

And Hansen's worst games have come when he's been made captain. If he'd only been here for 3 years, captaincy wouldn't even be suggested for him. He's just definitely not a leader.

According to Rogues he's the best hooker in super league and should play for England before Roby.

I actually like MM, I like his rough side (to many pens tho) and like his work ethic but IMHO he's behind Roby, Houghton and Higham for a England spot.

He's way behind Lunt as well IMO. Lunt has 8 times as many tries, 3 times as many assists, more tackles, twice as many metres made, 4 times as many busts. I would put Clarke at Cas significantly better as well. It was apparent when Tommy went off and MM came on that Wigan's threat diminished dramatically. Tommy also showed how you could be terrifying in defence while retaining discipline. Your problem is Tomkins is nowhere near standard.

I would love you to show me where I said that. I think you will find what I said was that Mickey Mac is a very good hooker and would one day play International RL.
Oh and btw Gary Schofield picked him as Englands first choice hooker in his League Express/League Weekly article a couple of weeks back.

Bloody hell, I agree with you but now even I'm doubting it since you said Schofield has him as first choice.

Those fellas aren't playing on one leg. When did we start comparing injured players against players with the top stats? Baffles me how people draw comparisons

IF MM is injured as you say he is then why is he playing. After all even a mystery hypercondriac disease can give you 3 weeks off now.

I know I was unsure about mentioning the Gary Schofield bit.

Hes one of many players who can carry an injury because its not incapacitating him like SOL's injury. No doubt his knee his killing him but what other choice is there? Logan for 80 mins? Thats a frightening thought. Do you think he his fit? Have you never noticed how many players carry an injury and have operations at the end of the season? Do you think they develop an injury 3 seconds after the final whistle of the final match? I often wonder what some fans are thinking about

If he is injured and lets be honest the remainder of the SL rounds are meaningless then MM should have been rested. I agree with you re players carrying injuries but some are not and are not playing and seem to get preferential treatment. How can you rest Tomkins with a back spasm and allow MM to play if really injured.

No i do not think they develop an injury 3 secons after the game. For Sam Tomkins it 2 seconds just before the end of training on the day before the match.

He's in a side thats competing in a cup final, competing to get in the SL final and its aworld cup year. Why do you think he's playing?

The question was why does SW have a love in with MM..not that i think he is a crap player, as my original post did not suggest, we were a far weaker team last year without him after his stupid high shot that led to a ban for the rest of the playoffs.

Affording him coaches player of the year after such a stupid on field incident that cost us one of our best players for the playoffs was very poor judgement.

He was much better under MM, when he controlled his aggression.

You know the extent of MM's injury how? The stats quoted are for a full season, not just since his apparent mysterious premature return from injury, how do you explain that? Lunt's stats are better than MM's for last season already, presumably that is down to this season's injury as well? If we don't use stats as a comparison I'm unsure how we use any other objective measure. Perhaps there should be a stat for 'fear factor'.