Imo in his last three first team games against Saints, Sheff and Quins he’s really shown some major signs of improvement. He’s back doing what he does best which is giving the team a lift from the bench with those trademark defence busting runs. His impact last night was 2nd to none and his offloads seem to come off as well.

Although he gets some undue stick on here he’s certainly a fans favourite on match days and the crowd gave him a massive cheer when he first came on.

Let’s hope this run in the team and the form he's showing will convince Madge he’s an asset worth using once some of the big guns come back and find some form. Certainly once Coley and Hansen return to playing/form players like Farrell, Mossop, Prescott & Bailey will be moving out of the starting line up and fighting for a spot on the bench I just hope Feka has done enough to be joining them on it as well.

I’d certainly be picking him in the squad over O’Carroll once we’ve got a full contingent as I just don’t think O’Carroll can match Feka’s contribution to the game. O’Carroll may have a slightly better defensive game than Feka but there is a massive gulf in class between the two in attack imo. That’s not a knock at O’Carroll btw it’s just I don’t think there is another player in SL who can match the impact Feka has on a game.

I think he's been great every time he's played this season. Though it seems Maguire still has an issue with him for some reason. Fielden has overtaken Feka as the slowest defender at the club.

I have to say I'm still unsure over Feka.

In what way?

We've all seen his defence has improved and last night he was hitting the line hard and making some key breaks. Although we can always look at someone like Feka and compare him to players like Coley and Fielden and say he’s not giving enough they all play completely different styles of rugby. Feka can’t do what the above mentioned two can and likewise they can’t do what Feka does either.

If he moves on at the end of the season then fair enough as he’ll probably be replaced with someone of equal quality (Lima would be my choice) but until then he’s still, imo, the third best prop at the club and if we’ve not got anyone better than him then he’s gotta play.

Thought he was excellent Friday and actually offered some threat from prop. A rare commodity in our side and something that should be encouraged. I fully understand the need for 'workhorse' props but a player like Feka is good to have in your armoury. I'm guessing opposition players don't enjoy facing him when he's in rampaging form either. He certainly seems to be getting back into the attacking swing of things and, with a marked improvement in defense over last season, could well have a crucial part to play if we are going to make finals this season.

He has improved but for the money he is on, I'd expect someone better next season.

I'd bet that neither Fielden nor Feka will be with us in 2011, if we want to continue are improvement as a team then both must go.

Feka did well on friday I thought we could have utilised him a little better giving him a 2 yard run up before he hits the line isnt the way we should be using him he needs a big run up and with his power he put anyone on there backside I remember a few seasons ago when he put ryan bailey on his was feka at his best wigan end erupted when he did that if we get him back to that standard then give him another contract on reduced terms

ive heard he is off to join nobby at crusaders at the end of the season.

Im even less sure.

If im honest i was really excited when we announced that he had signed for Wigan and overall i was pretty pleased with all of Wigans signings at that time and i think that most people hoped that bringing Ian Millward to the club could of been a masterstroke.....the news that we had signed players such as Feka, Pat Richards and Bryan Fletcher only added to that excitement.

During the really dark times under Millward the only entertaining part of our attack at times was the charging runs of Feka who certanly did live up to his reputation as a human wrecking ball or as he was called at the NZ Warriors 'Mr.Effective'.....you dont hear that nickname mentioned anymore.

Its interesting that both Feka's critics and those who want him to remain at Wigan beyond 2010 seem to agree on both his strengths and his weaknesses and agree also that this player brings something to the team that other forwards can't but in 2010 its as if the bar has been raised significantly compared to what was expected from the players in 2009 than in previous seasons and much of this is based on improved levels of fitness.

Players such as Andy Coley and Stuart Fielden have kicked on from last season and seem to be enjoying their rugby again and there is now genuine competition for places throughout the side. Once more we now have a coach that has already shown that if you are not playing well you will not be selected to play regardless of reputation or expierience. Out of all of the players its probably Feka that has been asked to step it up the most and change himself physically in comparison to his team mates but his lack of game time is clearly a concern.

I think Feka has improved in 2010 but so have the rest of the squad, he may still have a big part to play in Wigans season but if he left the club after 2010 could you see another top team come in for him? Can you see him being part of a title winning team?

Id love the answer to both those questions to be yes but at the moment im just not convinced that he fits into our long term plans.

Dont forget he played at Salford too

Feka ain't on big money, he took a pay cut IIRC

I told 200k a year

Yeah I heard this all in the close season weve just been through, nothing came off it although I wouldnt be surprised if it did go through at the end of the season.

I think Feka would be a massive hit at the Crusaders though, he really would be a big fish in a small pond.

I remember this but at one point in the close season Brian Noble was going to take a number of Wigan players to the Crusaders with him including Carmont, Fielden and Bailey but thats rumours for you.

If as you say Feka did actually find himself playing for another Superleague team (particularly Crusaders) if Brian Noble remains in charge then it would be interesting to see if Feka was asked to put back on the bulk he has lost in pre-season at Wigan, imagine that conversation!

Regardless of his future it would be foolish to think that he will not still have a big part to play at Wigan this season and by doing this he can also place himself in the shop window should another team want his services in 2011 and beyond.

I'm a massive Feka fan but i can't disagree with anything you've put there.

I’d love to keep him on at Wigan next season as I appreciate that not all players/props are the same and Feka’s game is different to that of the other props we have on our books. I like the fact that he can do stuff the other guys can’t and I’d prefer to ‘carry’ a player like Feka in the same way Leeds ‘carry’ Lauititi in that sometimes you need that impact in your team.

But as I stated earlier if he’s replaced at the end of the season by say someone like Lima I will be gutted to see him go but I’ll also understand why he’s been let go as well. I just can’t see the point in leaving him out until the end of the season as there isn’t a quality player to replace him in the squad.

As you said Feka still has a massive part to play in way things go for us this season.

That's pretty much how I feel, too, but I'd hate for him to be playing against us!

Think about what Solomona did to us at Wire and he's just a 3rd rate Feka!

The thought of Feka playing against us isn't a good one at all.

Well since MaGuire has been in charge he has placed a great emphasis on defence. Like many Australian coaches, he practices the theory that defence wins you matches. Collectively we all agreed that Feka would be put through his paces in terms of fitness and has done so quite admirably in shifting off the excess weight. However, to the suprise of many, Feka still continued to be left in the Reserves and was dropped for consecutive weeks. The area that I think we have overlooked is his defence. Feka has become a firm fans favourite due to his barnstorming runs that used to light up our dull rugby, but now we're not playing dull rugby and Feka is no longer capable of having the same impact that he did. IMO, Madge wants Feka to be another prop forward - like Andy Coley & Stuart Fielden - sharing the work rate in both attack and defence. I think he is more than happy to see Feka make a few less metres in attack if he is stronger in defence. Otherwise his great work going forward is wasted if he is pin pointed in defence and is a leak. And as fans, I think we have been somewhat blinded by his vulnerability in defence due to his strength and impact in attack.

So with this in mind, I've been observing his work rate in defence and mobility getting back in the line and from marker and Feka is still very, very slow in comparison to our other forwards - Stuart Fielden and Andy Coley. The area in particular he is most vulnerable at is at marker. I've tried to be more objective in my opinion of Feka, because, like you, he has always been a favourite player of mine, but putting that to one side, I can see why he has been out of favour with MaGuire. So on friday he still looked vulnerable in defence. He isn't as mobile as our other forwards like Coley and Fielden - particularly at marker. We sometimes seemed to overlook this for his metre gains in attack, but now he isn't that player anymore - he no longer makes those metres. He is being moulded into another Coley/Fielden. So he has to put in that workload in attack and most importantly with MaGuire - defence.

Next week should be an interesting team selection if I am right. Many people believe he had a far better game against Harlequins, but we also thought he had a good game against St.Helens. So with that in mind, I magnified in on his defence and I still think he is vulnerable. There is time for Feka to turn it around and, IMO, adapt to the new role he is being asked to play, which he used to play for New Zealand Warriors. Perhaps it is this player MaGuire has seen in the NRL and wants to see again at Wigan, because we have to admit, his condition deteriorated whilst he was here.

Tough times ahead for Feka, the neglect of the conditioning here at Wigan isn't entirely his fault, but unfortunately he is the player with the most work to do. From a personal point of view I hope he can turn it around. My heart says he can, but my head says his days in a Wigan shirt are numbered.

So is he the "World's greatest impact player" or not?

He is.

He did alright against your mob on Good Friday.

Bdumtish!

FEKA

Fair enough he might not be the fittest player on the pitch, but lets go back to the Saints game I think he turned the game around (IMO). He pushed the whole Saints team in the scrum which then Sean O'Loughlin picked the ball up and went 3/4s of the field - then we scored. He also scored a try himself if I can remember correctly. I think his defencive effort has improved, and he isn't as lazy as he was last season even though he is still only lasting several minutes. But he is putting in alot more effort in defence and attack this season.

Now for Stuart Fielden I would of got rid of him after Willie Mason give him a Straightener on pitch because ever since his has gone and the only thing hes got over Feka is fitness. Fielden out then the money we will have from his wages we could get a decent player to either replace Fielden or to strengthen a position.

Adey

You was doing ok until you brought Fielden into it. Fielden does massive amounts of work in defence and under Maguire has been very good going forward. A reduced contract and a 1/2 year extension is what will happen with Fielden.