I have floated this idea before and I would still like to see it tried out.
Sam Tomkins to loose forward.
He can tackle, he can read the game, he has excellent ball handling skills.
It would solve many problems if it worked.

I think that takes the lack of size argument to a whole new level.

I wouldnt mind seeing McIlorum or Powell put there for 20 minute spell until SOL is ready to come back on.
But it was painfully clear last year that having Isa, or Tomkins or Flower (the year before) at 13 just completely breaks down any attacking structure we have.

That was one of the main reasons I was sad to see Gregson go. Because he's decent size and speed, and can also play stand off (like O'Loughlin), and had a decent passing game. At least he would have been able to provide the link up play that we need from our loose forward.

The vast majority of teams, though, both here and in the NRL, manage perfectly well without this mythical ball-playing 13 (who are like hen's teeth these days). Why can't Wigan?

Simples - because we don't have ball playing 6 & 7 either and 9 for that matter.

Spot on. Nor another leader

It's not enough just to be able to tackle. How is he realistically going to stop their forwards finding their fronts and getting a quick ptb? He would spend the entire game clinging onto the ankles of the opposition forwards in defence, and catching his breath in attack.

Even moving Sam back to the halves will double his tackle stint. He will find himself targeted by second rowers like Murdoch-Masilla who will run straight at him. I think Waney is worried that Sam could be a weak link in the defence and have no energy left to attack if he is back at 6. Going to 13 is a non starter.

As I said Joel Tomkins is the best equipped, if only he was fit. A more creaitve solution might be Gelling. I just couldn't trust him though.

It doesn't have to be a 13 necessarily. In it's most basic form it's more to do with one of the forwards (middles ) running to the line, and passing out the back at the last second. The fact that O'Loughlin has a better passing game than almost anyone else on our team is a bonus. But if we just had someone else who could do the first thing to a decent standard, that would fix a big problem of our attacking move breaking down when the captain isn't on the pitch.
O'Loughlin does it well, James Graham, Grant Millington and to an extent, Cuthbertson. But it seems that none of our other forwards are capable of this.

Leaving out the obvious issue of the props failing to lay a platform I think our biggest issue is that we're already losing at the play the ball. Our distribution is poor and predictable. This WC has shown what happens when it's this way (Hodgson) and it stifles attack. All of a sudden Roby comes on, speeds things up, gives the PTB a bit of variety and the attack gets some vigour. Our halfs look so much better because they have that bit extra time and space to move.

I think outside of sorting the props, our biggest way to improve should be at 9. Mickey Mac did okay against Ireland (against inferior opposition though) but whoever we go with, I want a dynamic hooker who can switch things up and make the defenses guess. When this happens I suspect you'll see the halves playing much better.

I believe that in training the mantra from Winder at the play the ball believe or not is speed and keep it simple and the quality of the pass is less important.
I think you are spot on in saying that distribution is poor and predictable.
MM looked a different player with Ireland so hopefully he can bring some of form back with for next season but speed isn't his greatest asset even when he plays well.

Roby is in a different league to all of our players bar SOL and maybe ST on a good day.

Roby is easy to play against in SL though when we do it properly. If you make him work his off in defence making 50+ tackles he’s not as effective at dummy half. We’ve done that pretty well a few times.

Which ironically is one of the main reasons I think we struggled last year. Our forwards were doing ridiculous amounts of tackling and having nothing left when they have the ball.

I think it’s due to a change in our game plan since the 7 tackle rule was brought in. When we get within the 20m we’re an all or nothing team, seemingly scared to put the ball in the in-goal so barely get any repeat sets. We do the kick behind defence but in ridiculous situations like 30m from the line on the second tackle of the set.

The hooking role is a good point. Neither MM or Powell offer that threat. Neither does TL.

There is a place for one in the squad as a hooker but not both for me.

Given the current squad I would perhaps not be shocked to see 1 of MM and Powell starting with Escaré coming off the bench as “impact” changing things up.

I also think MM could do a job at loose off the bench similar to Milner at Cas off the bench when Locky needs a rest.

I’d have loved to see Dwyer at Wigan as our bench option, but the reality is we have to lose 1 maybe 2 players who can play hooker from the squad before we look to bring in a new more dynamic 9.

McIlorum got plenty of praise from Aussie commentators playing for Ireland, in particular for his smarts at acting half.

O'Loughlin OTOH has come in for some criticism for not really doing very much. That may well be because Bennett isn't used to having a ball-playing 13 as such, and has now effectively got three halfbacks on the field anyway with Widdopp at fullback.

McIlorum looked to play a less structured game for Ireland then he does for us and he did it very well.

Food for thought maybe.

Lockers stands out against the big teams IMO. I thought he was good against Australia (didn't they only score when he was off the pitch?) and expect him to play well against Tonga tomorrow.