I just hope we're looking for options and not trying to just make do as we seem to do pretty often. There's no rush and if it take a month or longer then that's fair enough but we certainly need to replace a player of McIlorums importance with at least an option to add some competition.

Leeds managed to win a treble without a recognised hooker for the business end of the season so it can be done. I've wracked my brain and can't come up with any realistic alternatives for Wigan unless they spend big. None of our competitors are going to let us have someone, so the likes of Dwyer is not going to happen.

It would have to be a second or third choice import like Beau Falloon. Rory Kostjaysn at the Cowboys might be worth a punt, though whether he would fancy it I doubt very much. We are not going to get a Michael Ennis or a Matt Ballin that's for sure.

I'd have been happy with Micky Higham but as he's skipper at Leigh I doubt he'd fancy it. Not too many options I don't think. Any ideas?

I hate it when he plays against us, but its bad news that he's likely to miss the rest of the season. Hope he makes a full recovery.

Don't want to sound predictable, but what about Tommy Leuluai.

He can cover Hooker whilst McIlorum is injured, and then provide competition in the halves and give us a great interchange option at hooker.

NZ Warriors have Isaac Luke and Havili was playing well as a back up last year. And they have Johnson and Robson in the halves, he might find it difficult to get a game this year. Added to the fact that he said he is interested into going into coaching, something that we've allowed players to do in the past.

Im pretty sure that is what SW would have explored straight away. If it is an option he will have already asked the question. He is a world class and top drawer ball player that would certainly speed the play up.

Other than that i can't see who else there is. Robbie Farah is still arguing about his contract with Wests but he is on a fortune. Maybe we can arrange some sort of supplementary loan fee with them and get him on loan for the season. He plays games and takes SL by storm and get's himself a decent contract in the NRL next season. Everyone's a winner.

You could do a lot worse than looking at Liam Hood.

I thought he signed for Swinton about a month ago?

No thank you, another scooter hooker with little or no creativity.

Thank god our own Scooter Hooker (copyright Rogues Over-simplification Industries) is back fit - chalk and cheese performance from Saints last weekend with the scoot-merchant on the field.

Are you serious? Ask a lot Salford fans we'd rather have him over Lee and Logan. He single handly changed games for us, the ruck was a lot faster and gave us plenty go forward, along with the scoots you mentioned. Far better hooker than Smith or Powell.

Regards Swinton, surely he'll have a release if a SL club comes in for him

Watched him from 16 years of age, and yes I am serious.

What 2 games a season vs Leeds?

As for hookers whose games all about a scoot, Roby made a career out of it? You not rate him either?

What about John Bateman at hooker?

What about another Leeds academy hooker? Robbie Ward just went down to Australia after not really get a shot last year.

Can't comment on Ward really mate. Without sounding like a Hood groupie, really think he has what it takes to be an international hooker. Miles better than what we (Salford) have now, won us two games off top of my head last year when he came on. Think he only left Leeds because he floored Bailey? And don't know why I'd didn't work out in Aus. Further more in shocked we didn't go back for him, maybe because we promoted a youngster who plays nine to the first team. All in my opinion of course, but ask other Salford fans their opinion in Hood, be shocked if anyone says anything negative.

Can a player be deregistered so their wage doesn't count on the cap for a long term injury?

Ask Hull KR, I believe they did this a few years ago.

They de-registered Michael Dobson so that Willie Mason could be signed. But I think that was more about the overseas quota rather than the cap.

Not deregistered, no; salary cap value is unaffected by number of games played. However, from the RFL rules:

(d) A Club may seek prior dispensation in writing to the HSCR to exceed the Aggregate Liability by a specified amount. In making a decision, the HSCRwill act reasonably, taking into account one or more of the following factors:

(i) the Club’s Players being unavailable through injury, absence and/or termination...

Don't know if you have brought in another no.9, but Leigh (my team) have signed ex Salford & Leeds hooker Liam Hood on a permanent deal from Swinton Lions. So either Wiganner Bob Beswick is 'out for the season' or leaving for "pastures new" !

Bet you end up with Howarth

Wigan have been after Beswick for week's (not injured by the way) but Leigh have been holding out for a fee I believe.

Leigh can have their fee for Beswick in the form of us keep turning up for their cup final at the sports village every January!

& your lot have the cheek to disrespect us by,

A) fielding a weakened side
B) take 50% of the gate despite bringing only around 300 > 400 of your [iHUGE[/i travelling army
&
C) your Big Club encouraging your fans to stay away from the game by asking them to watch it 'Live' on Pie TV.

We should never allow your tight fisted fan base to have 'Live' coverage of this game again.

Oh & you get your asses spanked more often than not.

Our second string getting beat every year really guts us!



You can't really blame our fans for not wanting to enter Leigh can you? It should be a last resort for anyone.

In all seriousness I think most people would take Beswick (which would save you cap space by the way) but he can't be worth a fee. If we're to pay a fee for somebody they need to be a player we'd have a longer term plan for then just this season IMO.