I agree with that ,he has been improving nicely in the las two seasons,and his goal kicking ability is a great asset .

Agreed.

If i were Ainscough and Phelps and Noble are kept on i'd probably look at a seasons loan somewhere if not even take the supposed money on offer from Union i've read rumoured a couple of times.

I'm not saying i even think Ainscough deserves to start every game but as proved since he was 'rested as a duty of care' he's only got back in twice and thats been due to injuries to Carmont.

Without injury Ainscough won't see another game all year.

I agree.
Or Ainscough could take up the trampoline because I once read that that's how Hampson became such an expert under a high ball and he was small in stature.

i thought you were being sarcastic as i was reading that, got a wierd image of him just pulling a mini trampoline into the in-goal area to try and beat matt king! haha

I like his bravery and his effort but he is simply not good enough if we wana challenge for silverware.

Would he get anywhere near St Helens, Leeds or even Hull Kr? Not a chance

Therefore we shouldnt want him

When Hampo was at Wigan he used to spend hours every week on the trampoline, thats why he was such a good fullback under the high ball

I'd have him in the KR team over Colbon.

I like him and I think hes got alot of room for improvement.

Noble is Mr Safe and this type of coach would usually go for Pat at the back who is as safe as you can get. I think the fact he is playing Phelps ahead of Pat at the back speaks volumes about Phelp's potential.

Hes brave, he shows heart and to be fair hes got a bit of pace and class about him. IMO hes earned himself a contract to stay here till the end of next season.

You get rid of players who are underperforming or detioriating with you do not get rid of young players doing a good job improving game by game and put in 100% regardless of whether they come from Ince or Sydney.

...or does he not trust Ainscough?

I never fully understood the logic behind that. It's not as though he was ever likely to be in a game situation where a trampoline was readily available for him to leap above his opponents.

then you could play Phelps on the wing...this isnt about Ainscough.

It's about Phelps, Famous Amos, Richards and Ainscough.

4 into 3 doesn't go!

Nobby has gone safety first picking Phelps IMO

Exactly.

Dave

Honestly



What does Phelps have to do with Shaun bloody Ainscough.

Phelps is our fullback, the best fullback at the club.

Ainscough is a winger, he is battling with Roberts/Richards for selection.

Everyone having a pop would be deadly quiet if Phelps was a Wiganer and Ainscough an import.



Bang On

Frightening

You were due to make a good point sometime fella

Its about improving your muscles in jumping. Jumping on a trampoline as harder then on grass and will improve your muscles. It's like running on the beach is harder then on grass. So by spending hours jumping on a trampoline and getting stronger that way will make it easier when you need to challenge for a high ball.

I think a lot of Basketball players do it, also some tie weights to their ankles to strength their jump.

I also agree with this. For me there are two other overseas players going before him at the end of the season and these are Tim Smith and Phil Bailey. I have nothing against Bailey really but we simply do not need him with the amount of second rowers we have at the club now.

Looking at players in isolation as you and Neil are doing rather than looking at the make up of the entire team before deciding whether an out of contract player gets a new deal is a great way to end up with a poor team.

As previously pointed out it isn't just to do with Ainscough but the make up of the back line.

Roberts and Richards are going nowhere and presumably club wants Ainscough to stay as well. The club must also have an eye on the quota and making money available for the signings it supposedly wants to make.

Put all that together and that should mean Phelps doesn't get a new deal.

If he was a great player it would be different but he isn't and being the best full back at Wigan ought not an automatic reason to get a new deal unless being the best full back we have also equals being a very good full back.



How do you conclude that? Plenty of Wigan born players incur the wrath of the message board from time to time.

With regard to Phelps he isn't particularly good anyway and keeping him on reduces the recruitments options of the club when we have players contracted who could do the job.

I can't understand why anyone would bat an eye if he was let go. Retaining him because he is enthusiastic is not a good reason to keep him on and he needs to be worth it as a player and IMO he isn't.

Dave

Skiiers do it as well, and they tend to out-jump and sometimes outsprint those from other sports. Trampolining would be a great idea.

He is particulary good though Dave. He has made the fullback spot his own. He did not just walk into it either he beat decent candidates for the role in both Roberts and Richards. We look a better team with him at fullback and we are alot more dangerous in attack.

As Grego said, Smith is on his way regardless and Bailey 100% has to leave as we have three good enough players in Mossop, Farrell and Flannagan more than capable of stepping up. I do not see why would have to lose a good player on a small wage who has demonstrated very clearly he wants to play and give his all for Wigan RL.

We do, but not according to those who love Shaun Ainscough because it is easy to blame Phelps for him not being selected - irrespective of Phelps being as you say the #1 fullback at the club.



I tell you why - his name isn't Shaun Ainscough and it's his fault Ainscough has faults to his game.

Agreed...I was trying to not get drawn into the Ainscough debate as its utterly pointless.

If only all the players had the commitment and passion Phelps has ..

If it was a straight decision between Roberts and Phelps it's Phelps for me.