A lot of people have rightly mentioned Piggy tonight and it was surprising just how different a team we were with him on the pitch. He was instrumental in our run away lead at the start and moved well for big guy when he scored.

1-Piggy
2-Smith-when he’s controlling the game like he did in the 1st half there is no better 7 in SL
3-Feka punched holes all over the park and owned a few players in defence as well.

Carmont looked dangerous and Tommy looked a lot more creative tonight as well and through some good passes out. Also Phelps is one of the craziest players I’ve ever seen nothing he does you could class as text book but it almost always comes off. Could be our one for a good few years to come

Agreed. With Phelps you worry he is going to get himself killed the way he puts his body on the line for the team.

He goes in head first

Crazy boy! Technique aside, glad he's playing for us and not against us

Piggy - controlled the game from dummy half (again)
Tommy - kept the backline moving
Timmy - some great passes

What was wrong on our right hand side, we seemed obsessed with kicking when we had clear overlaps.
Gleeson is not firing yet, although he doing the defensive job well.

Goulding did well for Salford and looked really sharp.

Phelps deserves the plaudits he gets and deserves the fullback shirt next season imo.

Thomas Leuluai
Feka Paleaasina
Gareth Hock/Sean O'loughlin

Mark Riddell's try in the first half was fantastic. A real glimpse of what the pig is capable of.

Leuluai
Palea'aesina
Smith

Phelps is hit and miss for me. Basically the choice is for next year Ainscough or Phelps for a front line shirt.

I appreciate on a couple of occasions Phleps has linked really well from 1, but in defence he is technically shocking and i see no reason to praise that. In the end his lack of technique will cause him a major injury or a crucial miss.

Made some great one on one tackles tonight.....

Phelps is the best option at fullback. So his selection is nothing to do with Ainscough. Ainscough has to fight with Roberts/Richards for his place.

You are forgetting that John rarely goes to games..............


Frankly, if he spent the time in English classes it would be understandable, but it appears that he spends the time elsewhere.................

How is it between Phelps and Ainscough? Phelps is better than Roberts, Richards and Ainscough at fullback. So unless we sign Billy Slater, Phelps should be our fullback. The other 3 can fight for the wing spots.

Not see my post



But fwiw, I agree

I quoted it, made a brew then typed

I agree with you too

Salford broke our line about 3 times from deep and Phelps put try saving tackles in each and every time.

He's as brave as they come and is doing a fine job at fullback.

Maybe long term we'll need to look at the position but at the moment i'm more then happy to keep Phelps there for at least the rest of this season and probably next year aswell.

Exactly, it certainly isn't a priority in the next year or two.

We've got bigger fish to fry haven't we.

A prop for 09, a halfback for 09 and then another prop for 2010 before we look at the fullback position.

Maybe we'll find a longer term solution from within. How highly rated is Josh Vievers?

Roberts and Richards are on long term deals Phelps is not. Ainscough looks like facing another year on the sideline if Phelps resigns and on top of that if it is anything more than a 1 year deal will seriously hamper our quota situation for 2011.

Personally i think it would be a huge error to hold Ainscough back for another year, and a very dangerous tactic too regards retaining his services for the future, there are many clubs in both codes queuing up for him.

Although not at Wigan Roberts has shown himself to be a far superior fullback than Phelps, we need to bite the bullet give him a run at 1 next season as that is where his future at Wigan is. A run of games and i am certain Roberts will come good as a 1.

Was dreadful under the high ball tonight.

Umm. He missed one?

More than one from my seat.

Was good in everything else he did.

Which seat? The one at home?

That was my thought but at least he got off the ground and challenged.

Otherwise, I thought he had a decent game.

Oh my sides, they split.

Roberts messed up more than once under the high ball tonight.

I don't see what your problem is.

Give him time to settle, he has proven he has more quality than Phelps, just allow him a run to prove it.

I don't disagree he is quality. Has started to improve and take the line on more, even went for the outside a couple of times tonight. Excellent speed for Locky's kick through as well.

I think you may be right fwiw, long term Roberts has to be seen as #1, with Richards having 2 more years and Ainscough's development.

Phelps will be retained imo, and could also offer competition for Carmont at centre next year.

But at the moment, Phelps has nothing to do with Ainscough not playing - which was the original point - he is fullback on merit.