So I take It nobody gives a fook.
Short off season and straight into It.

I wasn't arguing who was better! I was fighting the good fight against a total player hater who signs off his opinion with the word fact! and then starts offering me out over net then says it was for a handshake and a photo?

I have already said graham at times has looked awesome! He's also look knackered at times but that's the effort of the bloke. he would walk into any team in the world.

James Graham is the worlds best prop and how Leeds fans had the cheek to comapre him with Ryan Bailey last season, is an absolute insult to the man.

Off-thread, Tomkins/Eastmond may have been relatively quiet against a half back pairing with more International caps than They have SL games under their belt, but is that really so surprising? They aren't going to rip it up every game at their age and experience! However neither let us down and either could have had a hat-trick in a game in which they were quiet. Speaks volumes really, doesn't it!

On-thread, Graham needs a rest. He's carried the Saints pack last season, probably played more game time than any other prop in SL and has just performed to the highest level in the International series. We've all seen what too much game time/constant rugby can do with Fielden. We can ill afford to lose another top performer to burnout.

Sensible post.
But you are a Wiganer so it is to be expected.

ryan bailey frustrates 99% of Leeds fans and for us who watch him week in week out at his best bailey could/should be a gb/England regular! And he does play like that more than you lot would like to believe but not as much as us Leeds fans want! But at his worst he's lucky not to have his contract torn up!

I really rate graham but he's not the worlds best prop! Top five yes number 1 no!

In no order

petrol
Blair
moi moi
burgess
asotasi
peacock
price
kite
hannet
White

put graham in that list and I dont see him as the stand out prop in that group but no doubt holds his own! I'm sure all the fans of those respective clubs and nationalities would have their own arguments with regards to who's the
best!

He Dominated all the props you listed in that list in the four nations. Kite wasent deemed good enough to outplace Brett White (who isent International class imo). Burgess, Peacock and Blair played in the backrow so cant really compare.

the fact that peacock, burgess and Blair all play prop for their clubs amongst other positions would be points in their favour imo. I don't think petrol has ever been dominated that's why he's still number one for me. I think it's fair to say hypothetically some club sides in our own league and most clubs in the nrl and origin teams would muller England so we just can't look at the four nations.

I can't agree with what you say I just don't see graham been head and shoulders above the rest! but defo not out of place

James Graham is the worlds best prop. His stats prove this. He is a absoute machine.

his stats say he is over worked and a bit of a one man band!

just to be devils advocate, who says he's overworked? certanly not the man himself. He didnt look tired in the internationals, maybe he is just a freak who can take it?

from sombody who doesn't watch him week in week out I wouldn't have a valid opinion but I've read and heard from more than a few of your fans who hold that opinion

whos petrol?

Diesels brother.

Civoniceva isn't it?

To be fair, his abilty to play more minutes must be a massive boost for a coach. Graham was playing the entire first half and longer in the NZ game and the final. This ability not only allows you to spell your more impact based forwards more comfortably, but if you've got a player like that it gives you extra options on your bench, y'know to help cover you if one of the backs gets injured............oh



The Saints fans bemoaned the long minutes Graham was playing for club out of necessity, but Smith had the option to spell him with other equally able props, but still let him play longer minutes than the rest.

Therefore, Graham's unequalled appetite for work is a quality in itself and should be considered as a strength in any argument about how good he is compared to other front rowers, instead of people saying "he only make mores yards because he's on the pitch longer".

I would say he could become number 1 in the world in the coming years.
But I would say the same for Burgess.

Graham is more consistent, Burgess on his day is a fantastic player.

Burgess should stay in the 2nd row and LF position. He'd be wasted at prop.

But that was exactly the same as Fielden, and in the end it has caught up with him.

He has had a few breathers since it caught up on him though, no excuse for his continual weak form now. Can only presume "that" punch took a lot out of him and his "invincibility" attitude he once took with him onto the pitch. Poor bloke, immense for so long and now an average joe with a chain of subways that make him a fortune. Where did his life go so wrong eh.

Fielden's problems are more psychological than physical IMO. He lost his passion for the game and then his bottle went when Mason belted him.

If he had not gone on that tour, which he shouldnt have done, and had a good long break after his mother's death he may have come back the following year as good as ever.

Aye that is how I think it panned out for him. That tour was the death of his "best prop" image, still he screwed the pies over good N proper on the money front, so we have to thank him for that...next time your in bradfut, buy a subway from one of his gaffs as a thankyou token !

Indeed that's what his team mates call him!

And we used to rate Fielden as a premier front rower.

But on that point -

Can you answer me a question? Since Fielden's joined wigan, what's his injury record been like? A quick check on the SL website says he's played 29 games in 2009 and 23 games in 2008 - Not bad for a prop who's [iburnt out[/i.

Scully is a good example of someone who burnt out physically, in the end he couldn't take the field without something dropping off. Perhaps it is more of a mental [iburn out[/i with Fielden, in which case, his situation would not necessarily apply to Graham. Your thoughts?

Total games for Fielden (thanks to Bilkos superb site)
[urlhttp://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=391[/url

2006 11
2007 34
2008 30
2009 32

Those number of appearances are probably as good if not better than any other props in superleague.

It'll be interesting to see if he gets his starting position back under the new regime and also as he has now had the required operation on his foot.