Without his injury I believe he could have kept that form with the way the team was playing.

Yet funnily enough, some players win it who sit on the bench for half the season.

not sure...but didnt one of the best halves ever to come out of Wigan start his career at FB.....?................SEAN EDWARDS ?
did him no harm when he later switched to halves..maybe a spell there will help sam read the game better , and make him lethal when he goes back to 6 or 7

Still bitter about that eh?

Whilst Barrett spent the year choking against Saints, Roby was scoring at Wembley and playing in the Grand Final.

Trent in his "Man of Steel" year had extremely similar stats to Leon Pryce, who you lot have down as never a 6. Over the course of the season Trent scored 1 more try, had 1 more assist and made 2 more clean breaks than Leon. Leon won the Lance Todd and played in the Grand Final.

You were so used to watching bad players, the sight of a good one sent you all giddy - despite his disappearing act in numerous beating by Saints.

You don't know what you are talking about re Barrett. He was acknowledged as the best player in the league by the players in the players-player vote, which is the way the MoS is now determined. But if you want to put the opinion of a few journos many of whom have never played the game over the opinions of the players, feel free.

Barrett wasn't just the best player we had seen for a long time. He was the best player [iyou [/ihave seen in a long time as well whether you like to admit it or not. To put him Pryce in the in the same bracket is laughable.

Dave

IIRC wasn't Edwards only at Full-back because that was the only position available for him to play at the time?

i think it was more to do with the fact that Hampo kept breaking stuff. Edwards originally came in to the team on the wing although he was a halfback. Interestingly, Hampo came to Wigan as a scrum half too.

Spot on. All the players knew Barrett was the best player around. He carried a rubbish team for 2 years.

Couldn't have put it better myself. No further addition from me needed.

Spot on

well yes.....cant remember who halves were at time andy greg and ? kenny?...time plays tricks on the mind.

fact is..like sam , he was too good not to be on the field, so they sliped him at FB until a halve position was fred up........a similar situation to what may arise next year if im reading rumours right.

and Pemps............yes he did play first few on wing...like Kevin Brown

He really, really wasn't the best player I've seen in a long time. Not even close.

I never suggested he was the best fullback in the world. What I said was that prior to his injury he was showing the kind of form that could possibly put him in that bracket.

His form prior to the injury was so good there was no other fullback in the world I personally would have swapped him with.

To be considered the best in the world you would have to repeat that form year after year, which sadly since his injury he has failed to do, but I am confident he will return to showing just how good he is sooner rather than later.

The fact I said he is better than Wellens has not half rattled a few on the Saints board, lets remember Wellens should be in his prime right now and is still not considered good enough to take an International jumper over a 2 game novice.

Wellens is not even the best full-back in the UK, never mind in the world.

imo sam should stay at half back . play amos or pat at fb. only in case of injuries should sam be put to the fb possition

who are the players that barrett isnt even close to?

lyons is the only player that i can think of that can be put in the same bracket as him in the SL over the past few seasons.

You should tell Eddie that...

Positionally, I still think he's outstanding, but all round he's not even close to being the best FB in the world. Only 1 man warrants that title, and it certainly isn't Wellens.

Mike Ford was the scrum half with Brett Kenny at stand off.

Mods - back on topic or lock it pls

we have enough threads about our player x is better than your player y

Dragging this painfully back on topic...

[urlhttp://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-warriors/maguire_sam_s_the_man_1_803768[/url

Humble pie all round anyone?

Well, Slater was excellent in the Origin games: if he keeps progressing he could be as good as Sam in a year or two...

Why?

It's not like anyone said he couldn't make a world class FB. It's just I'd still rather see him develop into a world class 6

Not at all. Yeah he played well against Quins but like i've previously said whos to say he wouldnt have at stand off ?.. I'm pretty sure he had quite a decent game Vs Quins last year under Noble or am i mistaken ?

Against Catalan i didnt think he played very well tbh. He doesnt have the physical stature of Richards or off the mark speed as Amos which i think limits him bringing the ball back. He was'nt as involved as he should be aswell IMO Sam should have the ball in hand more than any of our other players and that simply doesnt happen with him at fullback.

I've never said i did'nt think he could do a job there for us but i'd just prefer him at stand off as thats were all his attributes are best suited.