Is this bloke winding down to retirement?

If what he's offered in the last couple of games is now his level then he should really think about knocking the game on the head.

The bloke is not within a million miles of being the player he was the year he left Bradford and to see a him getting dragged around like a rag doll is quite sad.

Didn't he start the wind down the day he signed for Wigan?

He's had about 3 games since where he's looked like a quality prop, let alone the most expensive one in the world.

How did he play for Wigan prior to the 2006 tri nations?

I often wonder just how much of an effect getting chinned by Mason had on him.

Fielden was as tough as teak, he ran hard and broke defences for fun and also would think nothing of getting involved in a bit of biff, but I think he's clearly lost his appetite for the game and he's just going through the motions until his Wigan contract is up.

I can't recall Fielden ever getting involved in the biff, to be honest.

He was good at raising his fist in an oh so threatening manner, but can't recall him really mixing it with anyone.

The one time his bluff was called, he was put on his harris.

Mind you, surely copping a good shot on the chin shouldn't be enough to finish a career?

Ive just come on to comment on exactly the same thing

He doesnt look good enough to be in Super League.

Dont know....he smacked Jason Smith all overthe place at the KC IN the 2003/4 season and Smith could dish it out.

For me...the smack Mason gave him took all his "hardness" away....if he squared upto anybody after that,they knew they could have him....before that punch they would think twice.

I remember him having a go with Barrie Mac once... can't remember if it actually came to blows, but ye you could be right about him not being involved in actual fighting and probably more gesturing and intimidating stares.

It's hard to imagine the Mason incident being the reason, but I also remember he lost a parent at the time of the 2006 tri nations and I often wonder if everything combined just made him think f..k it, I really can't be bothered anymore.

Probably not the case, but it was about that time that he lost his menace and ability IMO.

Fair enough re. the Smith thing, never saw it so can't comment.

But, it still doesn't sit right that the Mason thing turned him from hard man to wuss.

It's no shame being floored by someone of Mason's size, particularly given that he hit him with such a sweet one. If Fielden was genuinely a tough nut, he'd have got back on the park and showed it IMO.

In all seriousness, I think there's a lot to be said for burnout in Fielden's case. He regularly played long minutes under Noble, from about age 18 if I recall correctly, and at prop that is going to take its toll on the body.

I fear the same for Graham at Saints.

A few people have said that about Graham

I dont see it.

With Fielden it seems to have been a combination of things.
Too many games, loss of confidence, tragedy in the family etc..
I think he was playing with injuries for long periods as well.

I remember the Barry Mac thing.
Baz got a good punch in but Fielden didnt back off.
Ive also so him get a couple of shots on someone when he played for GB

I dont remember his technique when he was on top of his game but now he sets him self up to be floored almost every time he runs the ball.
He leads like Thakray does and loses possesion way to often.
Hes always third man in the tackle wasting energy when its not needed.

Shame really because he really was an awesome prop

He was being held in a tackle by two Leeds players and Barrie Mac went in with a couple of haymakers. It took an effort for Fielden to get his arms free before he could attempt to get one back in.

Barrie was sent off, IIRC.

He hasn't been the same since his Mother died unfortunately before he went to AUS with GB & hasn't been the same player since Maybe another fresh start somewhere might help him regain is reputation

From a Wigan point of view, he is a disgrace to the shirt. He is simply playing for his pension, is hardly NL1 standard and won't get better any time soon. Someone on the Wigan forum summed it up perfectly - he still walks around the field like he is Billy Big Bollox.

File under 'Busted Flush'

Fieldens problems began well before his move to Wigan. His level of performance began to fall of alarmingly mid 2004 and havent really picked up since bar the odd game here and there.

It's just a confidence thing I think. He lacks the bottle he used to have.

He also looks too lightweight, could do with swapping diets with that Fat Feka.

Fielden looked great in a pack where he was supported by Joe Vagana and the rest of the "awesome foursome" when they were also in their prime, unsurprisingly he has since been found out as not much cop.

I can accept that a poor player looks better in a good team but his decline backwards is alarming. His workrate as a player has simply evaporated.

Seem to remember Barrie Mac giving Fielden some praise about how tough he was to play against in his biography too...think he had him in his ultimate team list as well.

£450k

I was stood next to him at Quins a few weeks ago and was amazed at how lightweight he looked. Put him up against Ryles tonight and he was stuffed.

Still reckon that punch from Mason was a cheap shot but can't argue that it could've been the moment a part of Fielden's persona on the field died. I'm a firm beleiver that you don't just become a bad player though - with the exception of Iestyn - and whilst I dunno what it's gonna take, if he gets some confidence back, he can still match it with the best.

Thanks for the cash DW.

Real shame. I used to dislike Fielden for the fact he was awesome.

However i rarely take interest in his game anymore. He is rubbish, simple as that really. Does no more than your average props in SL e.g. Bryn Hargreaves.

He was boomed by Oliver Elima today FFS.

fielden should come to the nrl.

big bloke with all the skills.

our coaches would get the most out of him

hes could be one of the most forwards in the world.

The thing is, he isn't even that these days, either the rest of SL has got a whole lot bigger, which it hasn't. Fielden needs to put on a couple of stone of muscle mass, he used to be quite an imposing figure, now he just looks like a tall athletic bloke, not a prop.

It's a shame, he was a great player and I still think he has the capacity to be just that... needs a lot of graft to get there though imho.