In which case how can you say he was a quality full back for years? You can't say that and then tell us he just didn't play there because there was someone better.



Your right, a good halfback should be able to kick and pass well, but the difference between a super league half back and a junior half back is that they play at levels with a million miles between them. A junior half back wouldn't be able to pass and kick well at Super League level, Phelps can, so I don't see your point.

Phelps also returns the ball much harder than Roberts does, if Roberts can't see a half gap he will often just go to the men and go down, watch the end of the Saints game for an example of this. The crowd lifted when the ball was kicked down Roberts throat but he couldn't find a gap so took the tackle. Phelps runs much harder at the line when there is less on.



I agree entirely, I'm not debating whether Roberts is a better fullback than Phelps, I'm saying that Phelps impressed me and somehow opinion of him has changed without him playing.



For me Roberts could still be a game breaker on the wing. He told the WEP (I think) this season that the biggest reason for his step up in form was Maguire would let him come inside, Noble wouldn't.

This might sound odd - neither of them on the right wing.

Well not most of the time, just close up or drifting there behind play from further out. Play them both as fullbacks in attack.

But surely then that just removes having a right winger, narrowing the team and in essence making Gleeson the winger?

Sounds good in theory, but in reality I think you'd then lose all the tries Goulding has gotten by having the overlap on the right.

Probably would contract play to be honest, unless you tried to remedy the problem by keeping Roberts towards the right so he can track behind the play, and recieve the final pass similar to how we spread the ball now (more behind than flat) giving him a bit more room in attack.

It is the major drawback but I believe it would allow greater distribution across the park with more options keeping opponents guessing. But the walk in tries may become more sp, and we have become good at that this year...

I don't know maybe I'm being a bit selfish wanting to see the two better attackers than (almost) just a put-down winger

I find it equally strange that Phelps gets half the praise that he gets from some and I dont really see how you can say Phelps is a better player when Goulding is a far better winger and centre. Phelps hasnt really proved himself in any position during his time at the club and Roberts this season has shown himself to be a far better full back. Maguire obviously thinks that Roberts at full back with Goulding and Richards on the wing is our strongest back 3 as that is what he has gone with for most of the season, even when Phelps has been fit. If Phelps was that good then Maguire would have found a place for him.

Somehow a myth has been created that he is a good utility player despite nothing to back this up. He failed at hooker, was a complete disaster in the centre and average at best on the wing. His record at full back has been patchy to say the least and he is not a patch on Roberts, who is a completely different class of player, or even Tomkins on what he has shown so far. The mere fact that 2 coaches havent given him a chance at his supposed position of stand off, even when we have had injuries, doesnt exactly say much about his potential in that position. I really dont see how being tried in various positions, and failing in every one, makes him a good utility player.

I think you're being unfair to Cam there tbh. He DID have a place, at fullback, and got injured. He has since been unable to regain sufficient form post injury to gain that place back. That is NOT the same thing as not having had a place.