I think the Fielden situation highlights a possible problem with the contracts given to players.

I.e, 4 year deal on x amount. So many times I've heard a fan say 'but we're stuck with him for another 2 years now', which is a bad situation to be in.

Fielden would be mad to leave Wigan early when there's no way he could get that kind of deal any world in the world after how poor he's been in Cherry and white.

How much better would if be if the likes of Roberts and Riddell were signed for a year with the option of...x years. This could put the club in the drivning seat now the player.

Then after the first season, if a player wasn't performing we could release them freeing up cap space.

This would create-

-The play would be giving 100% rather than going through the motions.
-We wouldn't be 'stuck' with a player who is under performing.

Build in other aspects to the contracts, i.e bonuses for different things etc.

I don't like the idea that we're 'stuck' with players.

I absolutely agree; think it unlikely however because the overseas players will want the security a 3/4 year gives.

The only issue with that, is for it to work the Clubs would need to be in the driving seat, i.e. there be a greater supply of talented players on the market than the actual demand for them.

It seems the reverse is actually the case, a limited amount of talented players, with clubs competing for their attention.

It's also curious as to whether a player could be enticed over to the other side of the world for only 1 guaranteed season, unless it was something the player strongly desired (e.g. A 'out of favour/disgraced' or a player heading for retirement)

Also playing devil's advocate for a second, if you look at the 2008 versus 2005 stats.

He played only 4 more games in 05, but was given 102 more carries (more than 30% more ball)



Not trying to defend or attack Stu, it's just an interesting 'blip' on the stats.

2nd half of last season stuart was one of the top props in the comp and very unlucky to miss out on the england team.

I really thought that with a ful off season we would see him back to his best this season, but his game is way off for most of the season.

No signs of aggression going forward or fighting spirit if the goings tough.

I've always defended him butl there seems to be something significantly wrong at the moment - he just isn't displaying the desire of a champion player.

Tie in bonuses and incentives for the player to come over in the first place.

Fielden plays crap, still gets picked... Stop this favouritism crap Noble and pick players based on effort, commitment and performance and many of Wigan's problems will be solved.

And how do you offer them an incentive, that essentially not a big ass wedge for the first year? - And as far as I understand, non monetary incentives can still count on the salary cap, the do to HMRC for tax.

An incentive that doesn't have a direct salary cap implication, and that currently helps entice a player is stability, the prospect that club A believes in his ability and is prepared to commit to him over a prolonged period of time.

It's also interesting to know what your definition of option is, as most contract options tend to be 'mutual'. The issue with a mutual option is that if you sign a player on a 1+2 mutual option, and he sets the league on fire by the end of year 1, you then have a player who is essentially a hot property and completely free to walk if he chooses. The salary cap limits the size of the carrot a club can use to persuade the player to stay.

I'm not saying it's not possible for some players to be signed like this, but it's unrealistic to imagine it becoming a de facto way for contracts to work. The entire league would have to change to work this way, and i could see the clubs showing the collective solidarity of a pit of vipers. I'm not even sure if it would legal for them to get together and form such an agreement in the first place.

It's a fact at the moment that a fair number of players need to be offered a multi year deal to stand any chance of interesting them in the first place.

Quote Saint Simon="Saint Simon"what has happened to him? Same coach, different player it is very strange www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009'" Wigan 2008 0 clean breaks (0 per game) 2397 metres (100 per game) Wigan 2007 4 clean breaks (1 per 7 games), 2500 metres (93 per game) Played for two clubs in 2006 Bradford 2005 14 clean breaks (1 per 2 games), 3448 metres (123 per game) Bradford 2004 15 clean breaks (1 per 2 games), 3181 metres (114 per game) The tackle busts don't seem to show any difference but I don't know how they're calculated as he often stands up straight, pushes against a player, bounces back and runs in again, which may well count as a tackle bust on the stats.

Quote Saint Simon="Saint Simon"what has happened to him? Same coach, different player it is very strange www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009'" Wigan 2008 0 clean breaks (0 per game) 2397 metres (100 per game) Wigan 2007 4 clean breaks (1 per 7 games), 2500 metres (93 per game) Played for two clubs in 2006 Bradford 2005 14 clean breaks (1 per 2 games), 3448 metres (123 per game) Bradford 2004 15 clean breaks (1 per 2 games), 3181 metres (114 per game) The tackle busts don't seem to show any difference but I don't know how they're calculated as he often stands up straight, pushes against a player, bounces back and runs in again, which may well count as a tackle bust on the stats.

Was he though? I think he was hyped up by the likes of matty eliot, stevo and eddie. Not denying he was a good player, but best prop in the world. i don't think so. IMO he was protected and cossetted by refs and in the early years, no-one was allowedto touch him. As for the comment someone made re, all he needs is to wallop bailey, i don't think he can, if he ever could! Think bailey would deck him, in fact all opposition props are queing up to have a pop at him.

Barry McDermott may disagree on that point.

It was me who suggested giving Bailey a crack, nobody likes Bailey, he is a niggly bugger and is gaining a reputation for being a bit of a head the ball who likes a scrap, all we need is for Fielden to go to town on him and no doubt Peacock will be straight in fists flying and Fielden needs to have a toe to toe with Peacock too and then and only then would he gain his reputation back as a hard man who you don't mess with, I know superleague players who used to be scared to death of Fielden whether it be tackling or running at and now they just laugh at him and aint bothered one bit!!!

As a Wigan fan I expect my props to take no messing about ala Skerrett, Platt, Pongia, O'Connor, Smith, Cowie, Palea'aesina not pushed about and ridiculed by every player in the league.

If he sets his stall out on one the 'hard men' in the league only then will he get his status back. Anyone like Bailey, Peacock, Cunningham, Fa'asavalu, Newton, Morley, Mason, Sculthorpe, Ryles. Any player who is handy or likes a scrap.

His best chance is Jason Ryles on Monday.