Tbh what i see happening is sam at fullback in attack but in reality playing as an off the cuff 6 with Richards still out on the wing, whilst in defence Richards will cover fullback.

Well TBH I trust Madges jugement and experience alot more than yours so lets leave it to the experts eh? Richards is a better defensive fullback but he doesnt offer much go forward from there believe it or not, he is miles better on the wing, Sam on the other hand has only played a few games at fullback so he's obviously going to make some defensive mistakes, but in attack he is just as good at 6, better even because he can see more of the game and read it even better. ATEOTD like i said we would be better with those two at 5 and 6 and signing and proper fullback if Roberts does leave.

Phelps is injured.

Well said

I disagree there. The minute he went to full back we scored on Friday. It suits his scampering style of play.

Ideally he'll develop into a fantastic half back, but with injuries as they are I've no problem with him filling in at FB for the rest of the season.

I won't argue with Madge being more knowledgable of the game than myself and it is just the opinion of a layman but have there not been any of the other players who have played at FB in the past ?

How would Goulding be for instance at FB ?

Ok so most of you are at the conclusion that Sam>Richards at FB but surely you don't agree that he is better FB than he is S/O ?

I dont know if i trust madge's judgement though, occassionally he has cocked up, and its proven a hell of a mistake, for example playing with 16 men against leeds arguably cost us the challenge cup. Friday playing without feka or bailey was a mistake for me, and also on friday leaving deacon on the bench until the 74th minute? if you are going to have him as a sub, at least use him and give him chance to make a difference not 6 minutes.

Granted amos had taken a knock, but i've rewatched the match. its not that he hasnt the pace to reach the ball, its the fact that he didnt anticipate the high bounce and the fact he didnt anticipate the kick in the first place.

His kick returns are outstanding, however for me his anticipation and positioning are questionable. It almost seems as though he struggles to read the game.

Next year this position, alongside hooker. Could prove to be very problematic for us.

Honestly, I'm up in the air about it at the moment. I THINK he'll be a better scrum half in the long run, but he's mightily effective at FB. It's all about whether the team trusts Deacon to take his place (it'd certainly improve the kicking game).

Phelpsy is the man for the job, he was astounding at the start of the sesason

I disagree that it's not that Roberts didn't have the pace (due to injury) to get across, comparing it to the speed he got across to pick up the injury, he's subsequently far slower even when he's realised what's happening and is running - it's just not as fast as his previous run. Just my view though and I could be wrong.

He's makes it to the ball, only to be beaten by the bounce. It not like a backspin or something, the ball bobbles two or three times low down, you know a high bounce is due. He didnt anticipate it, and paid the price for it. Imo he should of anticipated it though.

I just think he would have got to the ball before the bounce, and also made it across to cover Hicks. Like I said just my view that I don't think a fully fit Roberts would have had both incidents result in the same outcome.

I agree his confidence seems to have taken a knock. Before the injury he was a revalation compared to 2009 but he's not been the same since. That injury looks to have proved very costly.

That said I was never convinced he was a top defensive full back. Better than Phepls in that department and the best option at full back overall at the club IMO but I suppose we have to give him the benefit of the doubt given the injury. I hope he gets his confidence back and is not leaving. If he does leave I think it would be hard to resurrect his career in the NRL on the back of half a season of good play in 2010 after an injury that seemingly would have put paid to the good form. Fingers crossed he can regain the early season form.

Dave

When Roberts is fit hes best full back in super league. Looks like hes struggling to get back to full fitness though

Personally I don't believe it's a confidence issue, he's just not as mobile as he was before the injury and needs match sharpness

this will return in time

He's the best FB at the club IMO.

Far more balanced with Phelps at FB and Amos and Pat on the wings.

I know I keep repeating it but I'd love 2 see him have an extended run again.

Agreed.

[urlhttp://viewtopic.php?f=28&t=444665&hilit=Phelps&start=15[/url

As sad as it is, I've dug that up. I really rate Phelps at fullback and I wanted to try to get people to cast their minds back to just how good he was. I know Amos was a revelation there, and I know he is more dangerous up the middle, but for me our strongest and most balanced team has Phelps in the number one shirt.

Sam was moved to full back on 50 minutes, when the squad was lacking any ideas and everything they tried had failed.

On 51 minutes he broke through your line and set up the try.

Things have not gone to plan (because of the Roberts injury) but having the luxury of playing Sam there has meant we have a chance at 'shifting the goal posts' - so to speak.

As you'll know, when you go through a season as consistent and successful as this, teams will do their best to study you ahead of the back end of the season. Sam is one of the most important players in the team, and giving him opportunities there makes us harder to read. Especially when you consider the type of players that replace him in the halves.

I agree. Phelps - if he can get fit - deserves another run, the balance is so much better with him at fullback.

Amos seems to have totally lost his confidence after his injury and currently doesn't merit selection.

I had a quick look at that thread and there is a comment on the first or 2nd page that says how we will miss him if he out injured for an extended period. Well he has played a grand total of six SL games for us this season and the fact of the matter is we have not missed him at all.

With Roberts out of sorts for whatever reason, Phelps will no doubt get another chance if fit and Madge thinks he deserves it but I think anyone saying he was outstanding before has forgotten who he played against and the fact he has figured very little this season. I think he played about 1 1/2 games before his first injury. He's been injured and out of the side too long to have had a major influence on our season.

Dave

I don't see how you can say "the fact of the matter is we have not missed him at all", when we could have definitely have done with him on Friday. And I think the people who refer to him as possibly being the best fullback at the club are referring to his performances last season where he was outstanding at FB.

I think the best full back at the club is Pat Richards and by some distance. In a pressure game i know who i would want to be under a high ball with defenders closing in and its Pat every time, his positional sense seems spot on and he is a strong one on one defender.

Having said this Richards is such a dangerous attacking threat out wide, especially in the air that i do like him on the wing too!

In attack Roberts was sensational earlier in the season but he's clearly not the same player now since the injury he picked up earlier in the season and to play him on Friday was a risk that back-fired on us spectacularly.

As for Phelps well he has not been consistent enough at full-back to warrent a regular place in the team this season, he seems to have some positional issues in the full back slot.

That leaves us with Vievers who i have not yet seen in action but by all accounts is another promising player who hopefully will get an opportunity at Wigan next season.

I wonder if we'd have seen Veivers had we won on Friday.

He's getting better all the time, but I'm not convinced he's up to SL standard yet.