I would think Mcarthy's spot is still under pressure.
Yes , he's gotta great kick
Yes ,he has X- factor
Yes, he plays more like a forward flanker rather than a tall.
But to me, he's lacking '4 quarter presence.' He's in & out of the game too much.
If you were an opposition coach, his 'x-factor' worries you, but, you probably accept hes just gonna pop up now and again, but for most of the game, he can be contained.
Now, if Lobbe took Mcarthy's place in the forward line, and you have Tabs, Hogan and Lobbe, ...well,...if you are an opposition coach, I reckon you've got a 4 quarter headache!!
In a way, Hogan becomes the replacement for Mcarthy, because of his mobility, and Lobbe & Tabs are your big marking talls.
That way Hodor plays, and we need him doing the workload of a ruckman - not Lobbe.
Plus, I'm not sure playing at Peel aids his development much?
Throw him in the deep end...thats where he thrives...