Don't we all. His enthusiasm and commitment has never been in doubt but he plays in a very important position and it's one where being good on attack can't make up for being not so good on defence.



Dave

10 years ago i'd have agreed fully with that statement, these days however I think the game has changed and reduced the defensive reliance on the fullback whilst requiring far more in attack than previously (and I mean in making metres and creative play rather than pure try scoring).



Having a FB who can chip into attack like a 3rd halfback creates a lot of very interesting tactical options going forwards.

As a neutral that was a

pretty good game last night, both still a bit rusty but plenty of good performances on show



Wigans defence was impressive , very well organised and to keep Warrington out for over an hour after that early try was conceded was a great effort



thought the Wigan pack were solid , they'll give sides plenty of trouble up front if they stay as solid as that and when Sam Tompkins got some possession he was a real threat -



saying that Warrington showed some very good touches , you can see why a lot of folk reckon they'll be up there - lots of depth in that squad



Looking forward to the league game in 3 weeks

What about Feka??



I was worried about him losing alot of weight, which could mean him losing go forward, how did he go on agianst a decent sized pack? I was listening to the two clowns, and they mentioned him getting driven back a couple of times, but with the standard of that commentry he could have been kicking a conversion for all I know

He never got driven back at all imo. He made decent yards and looked much more capable of making more runs. The most impressive part of his game though was in defence. He looks miles more mobile and was able to get about the field much better. I remember in the 2nd half his semi final nemesis Monaghan picked him out close to our line. Feka managed to get back into the line, turn and pick Monaghan out. He got him in a ball and all tackle and stole it from him only for the ref to say there was more then one man in the tackle(which was rubbish).



I'm very happy with his 2 pre season preformences.

I am not sure what you mean by reduced the defensive reliance on the full back but that isn't the problem. It's just doing the basics right like being safe under bombs, positional play and fielding kicks. He was weak in these areas last season. He also manged to injure himself a couple of times due to mistiming tackles so while he looks the most committed player on the park at times it can all be a bit random if you get my drift.



If Phelps is deemed by opposition coaches weak under the bomb they will adopt that tactic all night so he has got to be able to do the basics of a full backs job right. I still can't forget how he was letting the ball roll dead in the game against Wakey last season only for the opposition player to put his hand through his legs to touch the ball down for a try. It's defensive lapses like that and not dealing with kicks that can cost games and so he needs to sort it out or I think MM will identify the full back spot as one the team needs to improve on to take the steps necessary to be in finals and getting no further.



In the past with Hampson and Radlinski we had full backs who made it a waste of time to put a bomb up and teams just stopped doing it to a large extent so it reduced their attacking options. A rock solid full back can really help stifle the oppositions attack and I don't think that has changed.



Dave

Personally I think Phelps will need to improve enormously for us to offer him a new contract at the end of this season.



I agree that he's a willing lad, and that he adds sparkle on attack. But I feel that at some point we'll start looking at specialists for our specialist positions. I hope Phelps cements himself into the role, because everyone seems to like him - but if he can't add the extra 50% to his game (and that's how much I think he needs, if our team is to be where we all want it to be), then I suspect that his days will be numbered as we approach 2011.

I think Phelps will develope into a specialist fullback but wheather that'll be at Wigan i'm not sure. It's not because i don't think he's good enough but just with the quota's I reckon he might have a tough job to keep getting new contracts.



His real hope must be that Bailey and Carmont leave at the end of 2010.

I think he's main worry is the development of Josh Vievers in the reserves.



If he has a very good season along with occaisional call-ups to the first team in 2010, it be a might a no-brainer.

I agree but am wary of saying anything too negative about such a popular player





I think as others have posted the fact he is a quota player and we have a young player who seems to be close to challenging for his spot could seal his fate. I think the only way he can prevent these things from forcing him out of the club is by becoming a very good full back in the space of the 2010 season but if he doesn't improve his game as discussed I'd be surprised if he got a new deal.



I suppose he could get a new contract as a utility back and we know IL likes him because he puts the effort in but as a specialist full back he's on thin ice IMO.



Most people have been looking for improvements in 2010 from Riddell, Roberts and Feka but Phelps is in that camp as well IMO but he has slipped under the radar due IMO to the fact it isn't lack of effort that was his problem whereas the others have been criticised for their attitude to fitness or how they played.



Dave

Fair enough but who is this young player you speak of who's challenging for his spot? I don't see anyone who is on the verge of breaking through in that position.



The quota issue like you say is very problematic with Phelps. You can't waste a quota spot on a utility player so it may end up sealing his fate. I do rate him very highly though and think in time he will go on to improve his defensive work and become a very good fullback, certainly one of the best in Super League. Do Wigan have the patience to wait for that to happen? And are they willing to sacrifice a potential quota signing in the process? Probably not in my opinion.

I don't get where all this talk keeps coming from about Phelps position being in threat. He was one of our best players in the 2nd half of last year yet on the back of a couple of iffy friendly appearences that not everybody has seen he should be under pressure.



I can understand his long term future being questioned but not his place in the team in the short term.