League Weekly today suggest that Fielden is on his way out, with Maguire praising his professional attitude. Hull and Bradford are said to be favourites to sign him after September 1.

If this is true, with Feka out as well and Lima in, will Hansen move up front permanently?

Rumour is that we've only offered him 12 months and Hull have offered him 2 years. He's surely worthy of a 2 year deal with us

I'm a little worried about this. Coley and Lima will be our only seasoned front line props. I think we need another experienced prop. I see O'Carroll and Prescott battling for the 4th prop berth with Davies not being ready for fulltime SL just yet.

Unless we really are looking at Hock coming in as a prop, I'd be making some enquiries about available props. No props, no pots.

I thought Nathan Brown's post match comments last week were basically saying ''accept our offer, Stuart''.

I'd give him two years, definitely (at the right price, of course). He'd only be 32 at the end of it, and he's supremely fit.

Depends on how much he wants. If he goes and it means we have more cap room and have a prop rotation of:

Lima
Coley
Mossop
Hock
Hoffman
Prescott
O'Carroll
Davies

Not to mention our back row i'd be happy. Plus, the cap room it frees up might allow us to sign a dedicated hooker such as Ennis.

twelve months ago I wouldn't have been too concerned by this and in the past I've even been sceptical about players playing well in the finak year of their contract but on this occasion I really think we need to be signing Fielden up again albeit at a reduced wage.

Hoffman isn't a prop.

I would like to sign a quality hooker to replace Riddell though.

If Fielden leaves and isn't replaced by another experienced prop (i.e. another new signing besides Lima) we have not solved the front row problem.

Ever since Scott Logan left Fielden has never had the luxury of having another hard grafting prop to share the workload. He has always played the most minutes of any of our props and lets not forget Coley only found form last season and Feka has been out of favour. At times due to injury we have had to go into games with only two recognised senior props.

It would be great to see a pack including Fielden, Lima and Coley with the fourth prop position being between Prescott, O'Carroll and Davies.

Going with Lima and Coley plus those three isn't going to frighten the rest of the teams in the competition.

It would not surprise me if we did because I remember when IL first arrived he said we would not be signing any new props because we had 7 on the books. It will be very frustrating when we finally sign another top prop we then let Fielden go. Back to square one.

Dave

No props no pots

Get him signed up

Agreed, after the performances this year, we need to kick on and improve. Going backwards in the Prop department will hurt us immensely.

I know hes not, but i think someone mentioned he is 18stone 6 foot odd? Surely he could do a good job if required. And if it means we can get a "proper" hooker i dont think we'd be worse off overall.

But ideally i'd like Fielden to stay on reduced terms. Hes established, good defensively and a good team leader. My only problem with him is he doesnt make as many yards as he used to (and i know, by saying this someone is going to quote optastats!).

Hull's very late offer has clearly upset the apple-cart. Prior to them coming in, Fielden was about to sign for us, and, as the Melbourne trio were already on board, the perfect balance was about to be struck.

Unfortunately it's the usual thing - if we are to top Hull's offer, it would push us dangerously towards the limit of the cap. I'm not sure how much room to manoeuvre we've now got.

Im suprised with Long, O'Meley, Fitzgibbon, Berrigan and co they have any room left anyway?

But (purely speculating) if he's not willing to drop his wages, which pretty much everyone has agreed needs to happen, then is it really Madge's or IL's fault if he goes? With whay he's reportedly on we could get 2 decent props in for the same money (LMS and Lynch???)

Exactly. Fielden of 2006 was worth his big bucks, he was a marquee player. Today hes just a good team player who doesnt have the X Factor like James Graham, Peacock, etc.

Its all about value, and 2006 Fielden != 2010 Fielden. Simples.

Disappointing news - I hope there's some time for things to change and Fielden to stay but if not, I trust Lenagan's judgement. He's certainly earned the fans' trust so far.

I would guess its a possibility that the three from Melbourne have signed on the premise that we don't go over a certain limit for a potential wage for Fielden next year.

Maybe Maguire/Lenagan has someone else in mind to replace Fielden - either outside the club or within it. It wouldn't surprise me to see Lee Mossop 'officially' converted into a prop next season.

If he's leaving, surely Fielden will be pumped up for the playoffs in his last chance to win something after 4 and a half years at Wigan.

If Fielden does go we are an experienced Prop short. We cannot afford to go into 2011 with that problem. Hock may well return and go to prop but that will be June sometime and 2/3rds way through the season.

Having Coley, Lima, Prescott & O'Carroll isn't enough. Mossop isn't ready for the front row, O'Carroll has played very few games this past two seasons. We can't rely on going into a season with only three reliable props.

Should Fielden depart there would be an amount free under the cap which would enable us bring a top quality prop in. Probably from overseas.
LMS is going to Saints and their replacement for Graham who is going to the NRL for 2012.
Lynch isn't going anywhere!

Hope he stays, in case he does leave, does anyone know of top quality NRL props available at all?

Carl Webb?

i can't see why people think LMS is nailed on for saints. I might be being naive but thought the IL connection would help us.

Big disappointment if Fielden leaves. He's been excellent this season and I would love to see how he gets on in a far stronger, more experienced pack that isn't as reliant on him to carry us forward.

Having said that, MaGuire is not stupid and I have complete faith in his judgement.

bad move in my book this one (if true) , and one i could see coming back to bite us


but , madge and IL seem to be doing ok

This is not good news, Lima & Coley are decent props, Mossop, Hoffman are 2nd rowers and Hoffmans only on a 1yr deal, Davies is in experienced, Hock won't have played for 2 years and O'Carroll & Prescott aren't that good anyway. I feel that we should give stu 2 year contract so he can help out the likes of Davies as for O'Carroll & Prescott for me one of them should go along with Feka.

Gaz Hock could easily play prop. He has beefed up and must be about 18 stone and it is not fat, he is a monster and will trample over a few people. He is definitely too big for second row at present but it is up to Madge.

We should have big 2nd rowers, the aussie always have big 2nd rowers. Peacock and Morley are players who are props but can also play in the 2nd row.

The problem with Hock is he hasn't played for 2 years, its got to be a gamble playing him straight away @ prop.

If its nosey parker , take it as gospel that he's staying!