I was not at the game yesterday but is it not possible that Phelps lack of Match fitness led him to him being indecisive?

When i am Knacked i tend to make stupid mistakes before i feel tired.

Take a look at the video highlights Grimmy. There isn't a full back in SL who would have caught Barnett. Slater [umight[/u have got close. Reminds me of the 'take the outside' try between Offiah and Tate!

I know but you can't really see where Phelps is stood in the build up to those tries, I was at the game and kept shouting for him to move up but he held back, showed him light to the outside and away he went. If we're winning by two in the final and the opposition break the line, would you really want Phelps as your last hope of making that tackle?

Every fullback in the world has been made to look silly in some games at some stage. There is no fullback on the planet that you can be =#FF0040sure won't have something similar happen.

We used to sneak Richie into our Uni side from time to time as our ringer and although he never had the best skills the lad is a natural athlete and a real flyer, could easily have turned his hand to sprinting so there is no disgrace in being left floundering 1 on 1, i would back him to make any fullback look silly in that situation.

he was not far off the pace of barnett in all fairness

He gives up the second time.

He's not quick enough and he doesn't have the sense to position himself correctly so Barnett can't take him on the outside. Never the next Wigan fullback as some proclaim on here. He's a good lad, but not good enough. Certainly not worth a quota spot when we have Amos Roberts available.

But Amos is at his best on the wing.

Same goes for Pat.

Frankly, I don't want wingers at FB.

That makes Phelps the best FB at the club.

And as for quota spots and whatever, we already have one open. How many imports do you want at the end of the season?

But Amos is perfectly comfortable at 1 and always has been, hence his form in that position.

Roberts has been far and away head and shoulders above anyone else at the club playing at 1 which is what makes him the best fullback at the club by some distance, the performances speak for themselves in my opinion.

Phelps needs to find the form of the first few rounds of SL if he is to earn a new deal in my opinion.

Really? I'd say that's open to debate. IMO his best position is fullback and always has been, even in the NRL.
Roberts is clearly the best fullback at the club based on performance.

I dont think Amos is better on the wing. He is our most creative player and is a million times better at fullback in the middle of the park so he can be the core of our attack than being stuck out on the wing with less chance to create things like he does from fullback.

I think he was awesome last year.
And he started this season off well but when he came back int the team he didn't seem to be as good.

It's not a difficult decision. The quota is coming down and we need our overseas players to be the best in the side and in their position. Amos Roberts at fullback on his day he's probably the best in the league - Phelps isn't. He has great utlity value, but when we need to strengthen other areas (like at prop) and we have quota that is coming down, we can't afford to give up a quota spot to a utility player.

Phelps has no future as Wigan's number one IMO for as long as Amos Roberts is in the side and there is an overseas quota. I'll get shot down for saying it, but there you have it. I've called for Phelps to be given a shot at six since Huddersfield away (when we got tonked). Whether he will be given a shot is down to MaGuire. At the moment, the only potential opportunity for Phelps is when Sam plays for England. I just can't see where he fits into the squad. How can you deny Amos Roberts the fullback position in favour of Phelps? You can't. As soon as Roberts is fit you can bet your life that Phelps will be dropped in favour of him.

I prefer Pat & Goulding on the wings with Amos fullback over Amos & Pat on the wings with Phelps fullback anyday of the week.

He's hardly "a million times better at fullback" than on the wing. He's a better finisher than Goulding and he's good under a high ball aswell.

What absolute rubbish. Amos is best when he gets to come in field looking for the ball. He's even said it himself in the match day programme. I quote:



Amos has the distribution skills to link up in attack because he has previously played at stand off. His biggest threat is his open field running and returns of the ball. He's elusive, powerful and very quick. So it makes sense for him to play fullback. Did you not see his performance at Castleford? You obviously didn't otherwise you wouldn't make the above statement. Watch it.

His stats from that game btw were:

Tries - 3
Assists - 3
Metres - 202
Carries - 18
tackles - 3
Busts - 8
Breaks - 4

Do you honestly believe Phelps would have managed that?

Cameron Phelps is a very likeable player because he's friendly and smiles a lot. A couple kisses of the badge and people will defend him to the death. However with the Cherry and White speccies off, he isn't as quick, powerful, elusive or as dangerous as Amos Roberts. Roberts is the far greater athlete. Did you not see him swot off those Wakefield players for that great solo try? Do you really think Cameron Phelps could replicate that sort of skill, speed and athleticism?

Amos Roberts would have caught Richie Barnett. Both are very quick, but Roberts would have got him. I would have even bet that Roberts would have been in a better position than Phelps to not let himself get beat on the outside.



I don't understand what you mean by this.

The Quota is coming down quite considerably compared to previous seasons. So we need our overseas players to be of the best at the club and one of the best in their position in Super League. Amos Roberts is the best fullback at the club and is one of the best in Super League. Cameron Phelps is not. He's a good player, but isn't worth a quota spot. So therefore because we need to strengthen in other areas - such as at prop - we need to keep our quota spots open to sign up players in other areas.

Exactly. Remember his opening try against Warrington? Would Phelps have scored that?

I don't want to sound like I am getting on Phelps' back, he's a useful little player and great cover for Amos, but that's all he is - cover for Amos. I don't see him getting a contract next year because of the way Amos has been playing.

Im not saying hes rubbish on the wing, hes good on the wing aswell, but its a better option having our most creative player in the middle of everything than on the wing getting the ball less, dont you think?

Spot on. On current form, our best 5 backs are Roberts, Richards, Carmont Gleeson & Goulding, and that's the only combination of the five that works.

Having said that, I value Phelps highly as a utility back, and I'd like to see him stay on that basis, assuming he isn't on a massive salary deal, and also assuming IL has no-one better lined up to take up his quota spot.

Phelps' distribution is better that Roberts'. Amos is fantastic with ball in hand running at the defence, but I'd want Phelps if you're asking the fullback to play as an extra 6/7 as we have done.

Plus Roberts can still come in from the wing to carry the ball.

I think the real question is Goulding or Phelps? Amos and Richards walk into the team obviously but imo the last place is between them two, i think im right in thinking both of them are off contract at the end of the season? At the beginning of the season I would have said Phelps every time but Goulding is on fire this year, does the fact that hes home grown and doesnt count on the quota push him ahead abit? Or can we afford to keep both?

I think we can afford to keep both, but IMO Goulding deserves to be ahead of Phels on this season's form so far, so if one of them has to go, then it's bye bye Cam, I'm afraid.

Personally I think its in the best interests of the team to keep both, as for instance this year now, as soon as an injury occurs, we may need somebody to fill in for us

Phelps wont be on a big salary unlike some others that are off contract, he does take up a quota spot although we already have 1 quota spot free. If Amos is injured next season, who will step up to the plate, is Vievers really SL quality?

Fullback is a very important position, if your fullback is dodgy your in trouble (mathers

) I think phelps has good utility value even when not playing at FB

Anyway he has at least 3 months to prove himself, there is nothing better to motivate a player than his livelyhood thats for sure