Seconded.



Leuluai is a better 9 then he is 7 imo but there isn't much in it and he's a better 7 then Deacon.



Deacon has been brought in as back up and should be 5th choice imo. He'll still get plenty of games because alot of the time one of Sam, Leuluai, Piggy or McIlorum will either be injured, suspended or in need of a rest.



5 players for 4 positions is just right imo.

Not to mention Sam Tomkins and Thomas Leuluai will most likely be on mid-season international duty.

Of course.



We can keep a nice settled side by signing Deacon. It means no shifting around of Phelps, Gleeson or Lockers to halfback which in turn led to somebody shifting to fullback, Centre or Loose Forward.

i personaly think deacon will get alot of game time this season. i think piggy might get left out in the cold unless he picks his game and fitness up vastly

I'll light the blue touch paper here I think:



What makes you feel Riddell had a worse season than McIlorum?



And:



Is a dedicated interchange hooker even necessary?

I can see McIlorum being the one to be left out if I'm honest. However MaGuire and Wane will pick a team for what they have to face so it will change around in certain games I think.



IMO currently the best we can put out is



6 Tomkins

7 Deacon



9 McIlorum



14 Leuluai



I appreciate Riddell as a player but do not think he has been as good as he should be and therefore should have to work for his place more. I feel McIlorums supperior defence is currently more valuble to the team than what Piggy brings which lets be honest at times has not been much.

Statistically their defence is about the same pro rata

The Aussies don't seem to think so and considering we're being coached by one maybe thats the road we'll eventually go down.



I'd fancy McIlorum or Leuluai's chances of completing 80mins at hooker more then I would Piggy's though. I thought McILorum showed some neet touches in terms of kicking out of dummy half last year. Maybe McGuire can turn him into Wigans Cameron Smith





Long shot i know.

In super league though the impact hooker still works in many ways so that is a very long term thing as the game evolves. IMO the game is going to start needing more skillfull forwards and players like Ellis, Burgess and offloading props like Crabtree will become more valueble.

i dont think he had a worse season the mcIlorum but he certainly was no better.. as far as a dedicated interchange hooker is concerned i think it is used to change the dimention of the game. maybe to confuse a tired defence. it works sometimes other times it doesnt. Is there a need that is certainly questionable .

Which hooker is coaching us??

We definitely need more offloading in our pack to generate some 2nd phase play options, we've been sadly lacking on that since the loss of Hock