He was poor on Friday, but he's been good this season. I don't care if you're a tackling machine, you can't turn the ball over 5 times and have a good game.

Statistically he makes less 'errors' than O'Loughlin season by season, and last season gave away less penalties to. Now that's no dig at Sean (who I rate tremendously), just merely a putting into perspective of Stu.

Then you have a funny way at looking at a team sport. You can only be poor if you've not acheived what your coach tasked you with doing - even given the errors I think he probably did that. You might need to not make those amount of errors to have a better than good game, but eitherway how can you possibly slip to 'poor' (unless the word poor means something totally different to the people here saying it than it does to me)..

This may not go too well on here but:-
I think Stu Fielden in his four and a half year has been a superb signing for Wigan. His commitment and attitude have been excellent. How many games has he missed?

Forget his salary, that's not he's fault. I really hope he signs an extension (at the right price)
Certainly MM has commented on Fieldens professional attitude.

I don't have the stats on me, but I recall him giving Leeds the ball in our half at least three times, and once on the halfway line. That's inexcusable.

No it's inexcusable if you do bugger all else to make it right.

When you put in 38 tackles, and bust your ass trying to make up for every mistake you make, what bloody more can a player do?

I'm just waiting for some heads to explode

I reckon he'll have a stormer on Friday

In the days of the cap i think it is impossible to forget his salary when talking about any players contribution, but i agree that I too hope he signs a contract extension.

I would also expect him to bust his hump to make up for his errors, so i am not surprised by his stats. The nature of his errors and field position in which he made them in my opinion was critical in my assessment of him having a poor game.

Should he be dropped because of 1 poor game, of course not, lets hope it is a lesson learned, I personally feel he was trying too hard and the errors came from that. He also has a lot to thank his team mates for, for their ability to ensure that the errors he made went unpunished.

As someone else has stated I think he will go well on Friday to atone for his errors against Leeds.

I also feel again some people are getting too analytical with the stats, they only tell half a story, you have to use your eyes as well, and quite simply the turnovers he made and the manor in which he made them both technically and in field position for me putting pressure on us told more of a story than his efforts to make up for them.

Agreed, Well done Stu, keep it going.

Perhaps I should have been more specific but as we were talking about him losing the ball at the play the ball I thought that was understood.

I know that's what you meant mate, I was just trying to point out that some errors go more noticed and stick in peoples heads than others

I agree with that and I know where you were coming from. Re: Lockers though and general errors, as opposed to this more specific error, you would expect a player who plays 80 mins every game and handles the ball on every set (indeed almost every play these days!) to make more general errors than a prop forward who's main job is simply to run the ball in and hang on to it. That's before we get to the fact that he betters Stu's tackle count week in, week out. I think it safe to say that his error count isn't noticable because it's no worse than you would expect given his role, gametime etc. I also doubt, given he has great hands, that too many of those errors are knock-ons, especially unforced ones, which is really the point being made with regards to Fielden's errors on Friday.

Back on topic, I am concerned with SF's handling after taking a tackle. Having watched the game again he fumbles the ball on a couple of occassions, even when he didn't actually drop it, whlst attempting to regain his feet. There must be something intrinsically wrong with his approach for this to keep happening. I wouldn't be as concerned if it was just this one game but it seems to be a recurring problem. One he can sort out for sure, but one that needs sorting asap if it's not to cost us.

We were talking about this at the U20 game on Saturday. A friend had studied Fieldens errors at the play the ball and said that he appears to carry the ball in one hand and then transfer it to the other as he plays the ball. It does then cause problems especially if he is trying to do this very quickly.

Quite possibly Brian, I'll take a look to see if this correlatres with his fumbles and knock-ons in future games (although I hope I don't get the chance as he's already corrected it!

)

I have noticed the one hand carry as he gets to his feet, but I have seen others do this without any problems so I discounted that. However, if he's changing hands too, that could well be the reason. The coaching staff need to get onto this right away IMO. For now I'd have him regaining his feet slightly slower. I think he tries just a little too hard for a quick play the ball which, in itself, is admirable but also has a cost in terms of ball security. The proverbial swings and roundabouts I suppose!

Overall, Fielden has been no where near as bad as most people make out for wigan. Sure, he had the odd ocasion where he was totally dominated by a front row of randoms but on the whole he was at least workman like.

The problem is, for the wage he is on, you want someone like Graham or an NRL prop. On a reduced wage he is an asset.

What's happened is history. Thankfully a lot of his salary will be released to use elsewhere within the squad. I hope he stays on a much reduced wage, he's seems much happier playing the game these days after some hard (and sad) times a couple of years ago.

Due to his errors he had a shocker to be fair but the difference between this year and last(and before) is that he wants to make up for those errors this year and that shows in his stats.

He's having a superb season and bar Friday seems to have ridden his game of those silly little errors. He needs to get back back to his steady self on Friday and he'll be fine.

Hopefully, he has got the gremlins out of his system and is ready to lead the line on Friday, a big performance from Fielden can set the platform for us.

Any news yet on Phelps, Sam, McIllorum, Riddell or Coley?

Late fitness tests for them all

Interesting. I cant see MM wanting passengers in this game, but there are some key players for us in that list.

We should get a better feeling for who's fit of the 19man squad tomorrow.

I don't have a good feeling about Sam and think theres more to his thigh injury then is being said but we'll see. If Phelps is fit he'll give us some good options for covering both Tomkins and/or Riddell.

I agree, Phelps will be risked if 2 of Riddell, Micky Mc and Sam dont make it.

Deacon may come back in, but im not sure.

yep u must b a fish,