I don't doubt that at all mate, I'm just not sure he is there just yet that's all.

If you were prepared to let Roby go to Bradford, I'd happily do a swap deal with McIlorum.

Stats lie. Just going back one game to the Leeds game MM should be awarded an assist for Wigan's first try. He made it with his dominant run and quick play the ball. Just one example.

To answer the OP, for Wigan I'm wouldn't swap him with anyone however I would happily fake a Roby, Clark or Lunt to come off the bench.

So if you get a quick play the ball in the tackle prior to a try then you should get an assist?

The truth is somewhere inbetween. He's nowhere near as bad as opposition fans claim, he's underrated in that regard.

But he's probably not as good as some wigan fans make out either.

I like him as a hooker and would take him at leeds. He's clever and aggressive. He doesn't have the running game the likes of roby have, but they don't have his guile.

1st October 2011, the last time Roby got the better of MM in a head to head.

Not this again. Hookers do not play 1 v 1!!!

But no better way of finding the better player.

That makes no sense whatsoever.

Hookers do not play head to head so therefore the outcome of games does not represent who is the better player. That's ridiculous.

Until the day when Roby gets the upper hand in a game.

McIlorum fits into Wigan pack's aggressive style of play.
Roby is a different type altogether who's running game suits Saints style of play.
Wigan fans, including me, think McIlorum gets the better of Roby because the Wigan pack have been winning the battle v the Saints forwards in most games since the start of 2010 season.
Wigan have won 6 trophies in four season, Saints none!
That doesn't mean that I don't rate Roby very highly, I do! On form he is the best around providing the team he plays in is the type that suits him.
One big downside for Roby is that Saints are playing him 80 mins every game every season. That just can't go on. They'll burn him out. Howarth was borrowed last year when Roby was injured then sent back. If this 80 mins continues then he will have a short playing career as injuries and loss of form will catch up with him.
Great player Roby, Saints will have to look after him though!

We can argue this till the cows come home,but IMO it really depends on how the rest of the side is set up. MM fits into the wigan set up, I don't think Roby would suit Wigans style of play or or MM would suit Saints.
They both work well with the 12 other players and the coaches game plan.

If the next time Saints beat Wigan I claimed that Wilkin was better than O'Loughlin you would all tell me how ridiculous I was being. I would never claim any player was better than any other based on their team beating the opposition. It simply doesn't work like that.

I agree we are completely flogging him at the minute. A proper no.6 with Hohaia as a hooker would have been nice this season but the failure to buy a 6 has left us short.

Some interesting points on this thread. I just think McIlorum is massively underrated by fans of other clubs. As others have said maybe he is slightly overrated by us Wigan fans.
The drop in intensity in both defence and attack is noticeable when he leaves the field, he really is vital to setting the high energy tempo we play with.
I'm not saying he's a world beater. He has his flaws. His distribution is not always spot on, he throws his standard forward pass from dummy half most games and he's not really blessed with pace.

Stats such as try assists are not that relevant IMO. The style of Wigans play means a high percentage of our tries are scored by shifting the ball wide. Anyway I still stand by my OP, I wouldn't swap him for any other English hooker. A pacey impact hooker to accompany him would be good!