To be fair, his abilty to play more minutes must be a massive boost for a coach. Graham was playing the entire first half and longer in the NZ game and the final. This ability not only allows you to spell your more impact based forwards more comfortably, but if you've got a player like that it gives you extra options on your bench, y'know to help cover you if one of the backs gets injured............oh

The Saints fans bemoaned the long minutes Graham was playing for club out of necessity, but Smith had the option to spell him with other equally able props, but still let him play longer minutes than the rest.

Therefore, Graham's unequalled appetite for work is a quality in itself and should be considered as a strength in any argument about how good he is compared to other front rowers, instead of people saying "he only make mores yards because he's on the pitch longer".

Fielden's problems are more psychological than physical IMO. He lost his passion for the game and then his bottle went when Mason belted him.

If he had not gone on that tour, which he shouldnt have done, and had a good long break after his mother's death he may have come back the following year as good as ever.

Aye that is how I think it panned out for him. That tour was the death of his "best prop" image, still he screwed the pies over good N proper on the money front, so we have to thank him for that...next time your in bradfut, buy a subway from one of his gaffs as a thankyou token !

Indeed that's what his team mates call him!

And we used to rate Fielden as a premier front rower.

But on that point -

Can you answer me a question? Since Fielden's joined wigan, what's his injury record been like? A quick check on the SL website says he's played 29 games in 2009 and 23 games in 2008 - Not bad for a prop who's [iburnt out[/i.

Scully is a good example of someone who burnt out physically, in the end he couldn't take the field without something dropping off. Perhaps it is more of a mental [iburn out[/i with Fielden, in which case, his situation would not necessarily apply to Graham. Your thoughts?

Total games for Fielden (thanks to Bilkos superb site)
rlhttp://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id

2006 11
2007 34
2008 30
2009 32

Those number of appearances are probably as good if not better than any other props in superleague.

It'll be interesting to see if he gets his starting position back under the new regime and also as he has now had the required operation on his foot.