These were my thoughts also, id like to see what Phelps & Sam link up like, just maybe, Good Friday isnt the time.

If it worked, it could be a long term triangle for us with Phelps, Roberts, Ainscough/Goulding, Sam & Tommy involved.

That's rubbish. Lockers has been linking up in attack all season. Not just in Phelps' absence. Amos Roberts has played in the halves in the NRL before and so has the distribution skills to link up in attack like Phelps' has been doing, as he proved against Castleford when he setup three tries and this season when he has been at fullback he has wrapped up six try assists. He is just as capable as Phelps in that department so we don't lose anything in that respect. However the big difference between the two IMO is Amos Roberts' open field running and returns of the ball. He has blistering pace and has the vision to spot a gap. His footwork is also awesome as demonstrated in 'that try' against Castleford. Cameron Phelps does not get close to Amos Roberts. Amos ripped Castleford to pieces whilst at fullback and it was one of the best performances from a Wigan fullback in years. He is the most dangerous man in Super League at the moment and needs his hands on the ball as much as possible which is why fullback makes sense and why MaGuire had told him to come in field more before a ball had been kicked against Castleford. He is much more of a threat than Cameron Phelps and that is not doing Phelps any disjustice either. Roberts is just that good.

Would Phelps have got these stats that Amos did against Castleford? -

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

I think Amos Roberts' long term future at the club is at fullback with Shaun Ainscough and Pat Richards on the wings. Many experts/pundits who have watched Amos in the NRL thought that fullback was his best position.

I'm curious why Amos was largely passing to Pat to run the ball in on kick returns on Friday though, he ran it a bit and then passed to pat to take the tackle. Maybe an injury?

I think the upturns in form that Madge has produced are causing us some good problems, rather than us arguing who is the "least bad" option for a position.

Phelps will @ some point get a point @ 6 this season, and am really excited to see what that might bring us.

I never said Phelps hadn't earned his place in the squad, nor was the post meant to be 'anti' Phelps, my point was about player's (in this case Goulding) coming into the side, doing what was asked of them and more, showing 'form', and then being 'dropped', I believe this sends out the wrong message to him, its not like he's just broken into the squad and its his debut season, IMO his performances have earned him a place in the team. At the fans forum I spoke to MM, he stated players would be selected on performance and form and not on reputation or seniority (something Noble was accused off), this is how it should be, play for your place, reward excellence, support commitment, this should be 'The Wigan Way'.

If Riddell is'nt fit i'd like the team to be -

Phelps
Richards
Carmont
Gleeson
Roberts
Sam T
Leuluai
Coley If fit otherwise Prescott
McLlorum
Fielden
Hansen/Bailey
Tomkins
Lockers

SUBS:
Prescott/Feka
O'Carroll
Mossop
Hansen/Bailey/Farrell

Very harsh on Goulding but sometimes thats how it is and tough decisions need to be made. I like the look of us with Lockers at six when Tommy goes to Hooker, we just look extremely solid.

If Goulding is going to be kept in over anyone i'd like it to be Carmont. I just like our back three being Phelps, Roberts and Richards its so dangerous and were a much greater threat with both Roberts and Phelps in the team.

Very difficult one for Maguire this. For me, Roberts is the best full back and winger (or at least alongside Richards) at the club.

I suppose the question is, are Wigan as a side better with Roberts at FB and Goulding on the wing, or Phelps at FB and Roberts on the wing?

Tough one because I think the honest answer would mean dropping Goulding, who has performed brilliantly so far this year.

Phelps & Roberts both on the field see us with our strongest line up on the field.

Thats the way it's gotta be for a game of such magnitude.

Not for me. George Carmont took some stick last week, but he put in an excellent performance on Friday and caused Leeds all sorts of problems. On form Carmont doesn't deserve to be dropped and neither does Goulding. For me they both play and Phelps has another week to recover and get fit for the hectic Easter period.

If it wasn't for Carmont's strong game on Friday, Goulding should have taken his place on Good Friday.

Carmont's been generally average this year in my opinion. However I note Maguire's quote in the local rag that he's been impressed with him and it goes without saying he knows a hell of a lot more about RL than I ever will.

Even if Maguire was 50/50 about the left centre spot however, Carmont's showing against Leeds means in all probability that Goulding (unfortunately) will miss out. Unless of course he opts to leave out Phelps due to injury/tactics. Wouldn't do that myself, the lack of cohesion due to the lack of our playmaking fullback was evident on Friday.

we'd take him back in a second! i love watching him, no nonsense winger completely reliable....


...if you decide you dont want him, let him know we're here for him ok?

No chance. 7 tries already this season - alternating him and Carmont every game or two keeps them both fresh and enthusiastic!

That's a ridiculous statement. If Goulding has performed brilliantly this year then he deserves his spot. If Madge is true to his word and people are true to their beliefs that players on form should be picked then Goulding has to play on Friday.

Cameron Phelps was evidently not fit against Castleford and wasn't right for the Leeds game. I would give him another week to get himself fully fit so he can be used as part of the squad rotation for the hectic Easter schedule. I would rather go with Roberts as fullback where he is the most dangerous and back Goulding on the wing where he put in an excellent performance in a tough match rather than alienate Roberts' attacking threat on the wing and go with Phelps who hasn't played prior to the match and will be lacking match fitness.

On paper, yes I agree, but on form I disagree.

Roberts is on fire at FB so leave him there for the saints game, bring Phelps in at FB against Wakey at home!

Goulding has done no wrong IMO, his commitment and attitude to come in to the team this season and play so well is superb.

yeah i know its abit of wishful thinking on our part if im honest with my self. you think you will keep hold of ainscough?

I disagree. I thought we struggled in attack due to the juggling of players throughout the match with Riddell coming on and off, Sam Tomkins going off and Leuluai having to keep switching between hooker and scrum half. Leuluai even mentions this in his interview after the game. I don't think the fullback had anything to do with it all, which would make sense IMO because Amos Roberts setup three tries from the fullback position against Castleford and has 6 to his name this season which has all come from when he has played at fullback. He has played in the halves before in the NRL so he has the distribution skills to setup tries and link up in attack.

That depends whether you agree with my belief that we are stronger with Phelps at FB and Roberts on the wing, than with Roberts at FB and Goulding on the wing.



My belief is that we put out our strongest squad. There's no room for sentiment here; if there are better player's than Goulding fully fit and performing, then they have to go in ahead of him.



I'm obviously assuming Phelps is fully fit. If he's not, then it's a no brainer, he doesn't play. I also don't buy into giving him another week's recovery for the Easter period; if he's fit, he's fit. Maguire's not stupid.



That's fair enough. As I said, it's a tough decision for MM, and potentially a match winner or loser.

To be honest, I'm happy with whatever Maguire opts for. He'll be making the game plan, and he'll have seen both players in training all week.

Yeah, I can't say I'll be stressing about the decision - either way we'll be strong.

It doesn't. To say someone has been performing brilliantly, but should miss out is a ridiculous statement IMO.



Our strongest squad though is not always what looks strong on paper. Games are won on grass and not paper.It's whose performing and playing well at the present time and at the moment that includes Darrell Goulding who is in fantastic form. I don't see how there is any sentiment in that.



I would still go with Goulding regardless of Phelps' fitness, but for me Phelps wasn't fully fit against Castleford. However I'm not Michael MaGuire and the coaching staff will know far better than me.

I back MaGuire's judgement and it should be interesting to see who he goes with. It's a tough decision for Friday and it is really great to be having these positive debates IMO about which players deserve to be played because they are in such fantastic form.



My thoughts exactly.

To be honest I think Maguire will be thinking long and hard about this particular selection dilemma this week and it won't get much easier the closer we get to the game.

For me, I think we need to look at the players each one will be up against. Saints will have Gardner and Meli on the wings, both of whom are very dangerous in the air when attacking. Goulding is quite small, so there's a danger he could struggle with Meli if they kick to the corners.
One of Meli's weaknesses, however, is his aerial ability when defending. In my opinion Roberts would be better suited to cope in defence and to make the most of challenging for kicks when attacking.

As much as I feel it would be very harsh to drop Goulding, I think it tactically it might make sense. Although, Maguire will know better than others how Goulding could cope with that particular threat, and it may be that he doesn't believe it will make too much difference.

Although, if Riddell is injured (is he?) then maybe Phelps, Roberts and Goulding could play.

Yes we'll keep hold of Ainscough.

Goulding claimed every high ball that went his way on Friday. Most of the Saints fans I know bemoan Meli's stone-hands under high balls at both ends of the field. It's pretty tough to defend against a well-kicked ball where the attacker has a ten-yard run-up on you and you have to compete from a standing jump.

Our team selection pretty much depends on the fitness of Phelps and Riddell really. If it wasn't a two-day turnaround before Wakey I think they'd probably both be patched up and thrown in