Phelps has been really good since moving to fullback. Give the lad a chance he is only young yet and has his best years infront of him. The way he comes into the line and throws some great passes is something we have not had for years. Add to that that his defence or positioning have not been a problem and the fact that he always puts his body on the line and gives 100% then i think he should deffo be given a new contract. He has the time infront of him to be a very good fullback for years to come and i expect he does not demand big money.

Also remember his utility value,he can fill in anywhere in the backs and do a decent job.

phelps has done nothing but give 110% for wigan, and has played really well recently. The tackle he made last night to save a certain try in the last 5 mins was something most full backs would be proud of.

If phelps was british they would be so many more positive comments. I don't see him any worse of better then say briscoe, but because he's a Aussie many automatically dislike him.

i understand people perfer british players and wigan lads, but i think some people are obsessed. Yes i'm very competitive and my highest concern is for wigan to WIN! regardless of who's in the team and where they are from. Ideally these players would be British, but if an Aussie has come in and done a decent job, which previous british players haven't then so be it.

i think he's worked hard enough for at least another year and some other aussies haven't. It just seems some fans moan when there is not enough effort shown, and say such things as i wouldn't mind losing as long as they show the effort, then when someone shows the effort they complain there not good enough.

What if we have the opportunity to bring in former test FB Anthony Minichiello?

Only if we could be sure he would play a good number of games. A very good player but has had a lot of injury problems - a risk for sure. And what would he cost us?

would have to be an appearance related contract

Good shout. But could still be very good. One of the most naturally gifted FB's in recent times.

Excellent post and the last paragraph is exactly what i was trying to get at. Its typical of Wigan fans to say one thing one week and then turn full circle the next. Phelps shows the kind of enthusiasm and guts that you expect from a Wigan born lad. He has also proven he is very useful as a player. Many people forget he is still only young and will get much better but he has already shown the signs that he has what it takes to become a great fullback.

We must give him at least one more year. By this time next year he has the ability to be one of the best fullbacks in SL.

As for Minnichello no thanks. Weve made enough dreadful signings of injury prone players already. Let another club take a chance on him.

No.

You are joking right

Over the hill aussies...big money...

If we let Phelps go just because of the federation rule, you have to wonder if he could end up elsewhere and become a top player with them instead of us. We took a gamble on Dobbo when the Cats released him, and he saved us from relegation. Why are people so fixated on buying in 'top' Aussies when they seldom come over and make a big difference?

but phelps hasn't made anywhere near the impact that Dobbo made on us. It's pointless comparing the two.

My point was that neither of them would have been first choice players as they are not 'Aussie stars'. I wasn't comparing them to each other.

fair point.

But then again Dobson had been an aussie star for catalan, which is the reason we went for him. He was an unknown when he went to catalan, not after.

Crock.


Phelps has to stay. He is the only overseas player that deserves a new contract at the moment for me.

A brilliant player at his peak but a definite no for me.

If Radders has been coaching 1 on 1 with Phelps, it's starting to show. The lad's doing "ok" at the moment and will probably be on a modest wage too. New contract dependent on form over the rest of the season I reckon.

I'm assuming that you've forgotten that Pat Richards is an overseas player then ????

Yes, by all means, we need to keep Cameron Phelps, but that would be AFTER Pat Richards.

(Unless you're only talking about the guys who are actually coming off-contract this year, in which case please free free to ignore me)

Pat doesn't count on the quota, he's got irish nationality and also he was here before the new rules so he's exempt.

Pats irish...

Sorry, but Pat's as Irish as I am Aussie.

Although at least I went to Oz for 1 month - Probably more time than Pat's ever spent in "Oirlnd"

He is not a quota player but he is a none federation player and next season we can only have six of the latter.

Richards is none federation because (I think) his current contract with the club was in force when the federation trained rules where changed. That means for the duration of his current contract he counts as a none federation trained player.

When his current contract expires he can then apply for federation trained status, not before.

Bailey can do this in 2010 for the same reason but because Bailey isn't "Irish" or whatever he would become a none federation player but would still be a quota player.

Dave

yes he's got a most aussie sounding irish acent i've ever heard, but he did que up with us in the EU passport control when coming back from perpignan this year rather than get in the non eu passports que (which the aussie players did) and considering i was about 2 people away from him, he had a very green passport, with harp printed on.
So i think he does consider himself irish......well as far as living rights and passport control is concerned.

Or he "could" be trying to preserve the Irish eligibility for any tests (as he has 2 hopes of getting in the Aus team and one's Bob).

On a related note, would he be eligible for GB? Carney played after all.

First half of the season I must admit I was calling for Phelps to be axed come the end of the campaign but ever since his display at fullback against Saints at the JJB on Good Friday he has been pretty decent he has good link up play and can also put in a good kick if needs be and I believe another season with us will only benefit him and the club. I would also make the fullback posistion permanant when next seasons squad list is confirmed as I believe thats where he is best at.

Pat's parents are both Irish IIRC, so he's pretty irish.



If Phelps & Roberts were both OOC at the end of the season, it'd be a much easier choice, but Roberts will be here for 3 more years.