Hooker

[menpond]

MM has been wIth SOL cornerstones of our side for ever. Watching L Tomkins,cannot see any way he can get to Wigan standards.Planning now says we need a suitable candidate for next year. No physicality ,presence or real pace.Is there anyone else in the under 19s ?

[TrueBlueWarrior]

How anyone could have been at today's match and not appreciated MM dominance over Roby, I don't know.

MM was clearly under instructions from SW to play conservatively and concentrate on basic distribution. In defence, the basic tackling stats are misleading. How many times was he part of a two or three man cruncher? He was a vital weapon in the superb (71st minute?) set of sledgehammer tackles which ultimately won us the match.

As some other posters have said, if you want to beat Saints, MM is a crucial ingredient. If SW wants to give him a break for 20 mins, so be it. Roby is a great player but I wouldn't swap.

Just posted about this on another thread, Roby is a good hooker until he plays against a better one ie. MM

[TrueBlueWarrior]

MM has been wIth SOL cornerstones of our side for ever. Watching L Tomkins,cannot see any way he can get to Wigan standards.Planning now says we need a suitable candidate for next year. No physicality ,presence or real pace.Is there anyone else in the under 19s ?

I thought LT did ok today and helped MM do 'another' job on Roby!!

[menpond]

For some reason unfathomable to most Rl fans,Wane plays with low sized back 3s ,ie Farrelland Bateman,a stand off. MM must play hard core defensive to help out the forwards, who cannot cope with the top teams ,see LEEDS recently.Well its just about working.With Wane you don't know when it will disintegrate.

[AndyNick]

James Roby and Micky Mac have to very different styles. Roby runs the game without really drawing too much attention to himself. Micky Mac leads from the front.

Yesterday's game, Roby seemed to look at his most dangerous between the 30 and 55 minute marks. When Mac came back on he had one go, was hit by Mac and was largely absent for the remainder.

One thing that the stats don't show is the level of leadership that Micky brings to the side. Like I say, he leads from the front, People are thinking twice about trying to break from the PTB because he will hit you hard. He leads the defence in a brutal manner. There is only one hooker in the world who I would select ahead of him for Wigan and that is Cameron Smith.

[shaunedwardsfanclub]

James Roby and Micky Mac have to very different styles. Roby runs the game without really drawing too much attention to himself. Micky Mac leads from the front.

Yesterday's game, Roby seemed to look at his most dangerous between the 30 and 55 minute marks. When Mac came back on he had one go, was hit by Mac and was largely absent for the remainder.

One thing that the stats don't show is the level of leadership that Micky brings to the side. Like I say, he leads from the front, People are thinking twice about trying to break from the PTB because he will hit you hard. He leads the defence in a brutal manner. There is only one hooker in the world who I would select ahead of him for Wigan and that is Cameron Smith.

I am a big fan of MM but I can't agree with you Andy, the likes of Luke and Farrah are in my view are better players simply because they have a better all round game. Micky needs to improve the offensive side of his game to be considered one of the world's top hookers. That is something that. I think he can achieve but sadly not with the syle of rugby we play at Wigan.

[Panchitta Marra]

For some reason unfathomable to most Rl fans,Wane plays with low sized back 3s ,ie Farrelland Bateman,a stand off. MM must play hard core defensive to help out the forwards, who cannot cope with the top teams ,see LEEDS recently.Well its just about working.With Wane you don't know when it will disintegrate.

It will be interesting to see how the others with big packs and bigger back 3's cope with Wigans more athletic forwards when the interchange is reduced from 8 to 6.

[shaunedwardsfanclub]

For some reason unfathomable to most Rl fans,Wane plays with low sized back 3s ,ie Farrelland Bateman,a stand off. MM must play hard core defensive to help out the forwards, who cannot cope with the top teams ,see LEEDS recently.Well its just about working.With Wane you don't know when it will disintegrate.

It will be interesting to see how the others with big packs and bigger back 3's cope with Wigans more athletic forwards when the interchange is reduced from 8 to 6.

The interchange is currently 10 so it will be quite interesting to see how teams will cope with the possible change. I think Saints may need to change their recruit philosophy. I am all for giving the smaller, skilfull guys a better opportunity.

[Panchitta Marra]

For some reason unfathomable to most Rl fans,Wane plays with low sized back 3s ,ie Farrelland Bateman,a stand off. MM must play hard core defensive to help out the forwards, who cannot cope with the top teams ,see LEEDS recently.Well its just about working.With Wane you don't know when it will disintegrate.

It will be interesting to see how the others with big packs and bigger back 3's cope with Wigans more athletic forwards when the interchange is reduced from 8 to 6.

The interchange is currently 10 so it will be quite interesting to see how teams will cope with the possible change. I think Saints may need to change their recruit philosophy. I am all for giving the smaller, skilfull guys a better opportunity.

Thanks SEFC, thought I'd heard it was 8, its an even bigger reduction if cut down to 6.
Players like Flower, Clubb, Tomkins, Farrel and Patrick will hopefully benefit, but not so sure on Tautai, Crosby and Sutton.
Pudding boy Masoe will struggle.

[shaunedwardsfanclub]

It will be interesting to see how the others with big packs and bigger back 3's cope with Wigans more athletic forwards when the interchange is reduced from 8 to 6.

The interchange is currently 10 so it will be quite interesting to see how teams will cope with the possible change. I think Saints may need to change their recruit philosophy. I am all for giving the smaller, skilfull guys a better opportunity.

Thanks SEFC, thought I'd heard it was 8, its an even bigger reduction if cut down to 6.
Players like Flower, Clubb, Tomkins, Farrel and Patrick will hopefully benefit, but not so sure on Tautai, Crosby and Sutton.
Pudding boy Masoe will struggle.

I think PM we will slim Crosby down again, Sutton will be ok. Tuatai will need to improve his fitness and Clubb will probably need to lose a few kilos. Overall, I don't think we will have too many problems adjusting. Saints will though, as you say Masoe will find it difficult as will Amor and Walmsley.