2 Seasons ago Fielden was immense but hasnt really played since. Im excited to to see him pull on the jersey again and as posted previously the rest may have given his body time to heal and refresh. If Fielden can stay fit and healthy I think he will really shine playing in this dominant pack we currently have, very similar to his Bradford days. I just hope his body is up to the rigours of Super League.

I think a fully fit Fielden could really be a fantastic boost. He was our best prop when we won SL in 2010, defensively he did a ton of work. With Dudson injured for the season, Prescott not finding full fitness, i'm very excited to see Fielden back in the team. We are a better team with him as one of our 4 props, make no mistake about that. Fielden and Mossop starting, with an impact prop bench of Lima and Lauaki? Yes please!

Never did Gaz Hock any harm having 2 years out.

Stu has always kept himself in tip top condition. It was the niggly injuries and perhaps a perhaps a little bit of mental fatigue that may have stopped him hitting Bradford form.

Now, in no way im i saying we will see a return to that form, but i am pretty confident that we will have a great addition back into the squad when he is fully fit

How old is he? He surely isn't as old as Peacock and also props don't tnd to peak until their late 20's possibly early 30's.

33 in September

33 in September

If you had pressed enter one less time you might have beaten Bill Sonny to the reply. So close but yet so far.

Didn't think he was that old!!!!!!!

I don't get all the negativity surrounding big Stu.

The lad has had a long layoff because he tried to return too early.

Let's give him a chance.

As others have said 4 props from Fielden , Mossop, Lauaki, Lima and Prescott is mouth watering.

If Fielden can get fit for the playoffs we could be unstoppable!

IF - and its a big IF, Fielden does return any time this season I wouldn't be expecting too much. He's had the best part of two years out of the game and Gaz Hock was blowing out of his backside when he came back last year after a similar layoff

At best he will be a bit part player in the final rounds but I very much doubt he would be risked in the high intensity environment of the playoffs. He needs pre-season under his belt as did Gareth, but I very much doubt it will be with us.

My feelings exactly. I'll be absolutely amazed if Fielden is a Wigan player in 2013.

Wakefield bound i heard

If Bradford stay afloat and in Super League, I can see him spending his last couple of seasons back with them.

If Stu can rediscover the high standards that he was acheiving, prior to injury, then I would like to see him playing for at least another season with us. If nothing more it would give the likes of Crosby, Spencer and Burke an extra year to develop.

i would like to see him go elsewhere, in terms of value and service to the club 1.5 superb seasons out of 6 simply ain't good enough, he has been out far too long with a serious injury and complications, the guy is nye on 33, certain fans keep mentioning the Hock scenario, yes Gaz was out for 2 years and has come back far better than he ever was, but let's face it, Gaz was not seriously injured, Gaz was a numbhead and got caught out, therefore he was able to keep a certain amount of fitness and he was only 27 when he came back, i would take a look at the Radlinski situation in when he came back for no money in our hour of need, he had only been away from the game for 6 months or so IIRC and he was a shadow of his former self, i think quite a few fans are looking at this through sentimental eyes, we are a top flight sports club, we should be ruthless with players who can't cut the mustard anymore, then again Stuart could have done the right thing and left for the good of the club ala Seu Seu, Roberts and others in the past

we have a bunch of exciting young props but with lima going we need a old pro to guide them.stu fits the bill,we then don't need to buy any more props and can put all into the backs,which make no mistake is a work in progress.

That could be a good call, depends what other clubs would prepared to pay him, I suspect. I reckon we'll offer him a much reduced contract, but won't be too worried if he can get a better deal somewhere else.

Hopefully Stu will have the opportunity at some stage in the coming 7 games to show what he is capable of and depending on his performance he may yet feature in the play offs and then be offered a 12 month/2 year contract on reduced terms.

This

What is all this about spending any Fielden money on backs. Who are we going to buy? Sounds like most decent Aussies are going to stay where they are, so we're limited to buying from Super League. Who are these people that will improve our back line and that are available?

Exactly. We're already losing Lima, we have players who are regularly injured in the forwards which means we play more often than not with a depleted pack, we should be replacing like for like. We lose a forward? Get a new one. We're losing Tommy so we've got Smith. In the backs we need a 6 to replace Finch, and need to start find a replacement for Carmont. Hopefully Thornley will fill that centre spot if he steps up to the plate, but we should still be looking to replace Pat as he is in his last year of his contract with us next season and has spent a fair chunk of his time in the stands over the past two years.

If only we knew someone who prints the names on next year's shirts..............

Like Captian 13?

[urlhttp://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/7909610/?[/url

Wigan captain Sean O'Loughlin believes the impending return of Stuart Fielden will be like a new signing for the club.

Fielden, a £450,000 capture from the Bradford Bulls in 2006, has not played for Wigan since tearing a pectoral muscle in training last July.

The 32-year-old has made one appearance for the Warriors in two seasons, but is hopeful of making his return for the Super League leaders in the coming weeks.

"We're all hoping he will get out on the field this year as he's worked so hard on his recovery."

Wigan were dumped out of the Challenge Cup by Leeds on Saturday and O'Loughlin believes the return of the likes Fielden can give Shaun Wane's squad a welcome confidence boost.

"I still believe and know that we can finish top and win that Grand Final," he told the club's official website.

"We've had a good season up to now and with a few players coming back in to the frame like Tommy (Leuluai) and Paddy (Richard) and hopefully Stu Fielden (who will be like a new signing!) we can build up a real head of steam for the play offs.

"Speaking of Stu, hopefully he will be back training with us soon.

"We're all hoping he will get out on the field this year as he's worked so hard on his recovery and is a top bloke and a world class forward too."

Good luck to him,
be good to see Stu ripping it up in SL again like the good old days