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.