+1.

Why should Fielden get a place in the play off team when Lima, Prescott, Flower, Mossop, Crosby and even Dudson have had more game time than Fielden this year????

Because on his day Fielden is better than any of the players you have listed, and to win the major trophies you want your better players playing.

Should Gelling get selected before Richards?

No but Richards hasnt been missing for the best part of two years!

At the end of the day if he was a million miles away from the level he needs to be Wane wouldn't play him. Fact is as said in the interview he looks after himself as well as anyone can do, his self discipline and the fact he's had no wear and tear for 2 years does put him in the best condition he could be after such a long lay off.

Wane must see something left in the man to play him, he's a winner through and through and he has experience, something all the props you mentioned don't have barring Lima.

We can afford to take a chance, so do it.

Fielden played last week. He did 45 mins game time in the 20's and looked the business. Now time for his first team return. What a boost, a hungry fielden playing for his new contract in the play off's. He is well and truely in the shop window and is playing for a new deal

But Gelling has played more games than Richards [ithis year[/i which was your initial argument.

Sadly we don't have a time machine to go back and get the Fielden of 2005

I'm not doubting Fielden's abilities or that even with his time out of the game he has something to offer, but that statement is certainly open to debate, especially given that having two years out of the game makes it entirely hypothetical, or if based on Fielden's form over two years ago makes it completely unreliable.

I'd be very surprised if right now Fielden was capable of being better than Lima and Mossop at their best, even if those two haven't been near their best for a couple of months now.

Surely it's just expecting too much for him to come back and be at his very best again? I mean for even the best players in the world it would probably take four or five games to even get close to their best form. His form during his last real run of games in the team was on a par with Mossop at his best this year (before falling away completely) and definitely not as good as Lima.

I didn't say he should. I said I would like him too.

After his efforts in 2006, and even 2007 which he has admitted was a very tough time for him personally I would like us to give him the best send off possible and that is winning at Old Trafford.

CP I agree with what you say, and perhaps I was being a little mischievous.



BUT with a fully fit squad I would have Fielden as ONE of the four props. He was blowing out of his backside for the last few minutes of his two spells in the U20's game, but I expect Wane wants a closer look at him in a "real" game.

I hope he goes well. Dudson concerns me in that he tires easily and then starts to give daft penalties, something we can't afford in big games.

Our strongest pack would have Lima and Mossop as the first two props. Lauaki as a third I think requires another big strong forward as 4th prop because as I've said a few times before he doesn't really create a strong pack but he plays very well as part of one. Fielden certainly fits the bill as that big 4th choice prop who could really help create a dominant front row.

Dudson can also do that and he's a bit hard to understand. His games for the under 20's this year have been quite poor in my opinion. He looked like a real liability. Yet for the first team he actually did incredibly well and very rarely missed a tackle or conceded penalties. I think with him there's perhaps the risk that if he's not 100% he'll revert to the Dudson that turned out for the under 20's.

Flower and Crosby for me don't add any real strength to the pack, especially if Lauaki and Farrell are in the squad because I just think the forwards become too lightweight and lacking in any real impact.

So for me, our strongest pack going into the playoffs would have one of Dudson or Fielden in it, so Friday provides a good chance for them to stake their claim and I think that's exactly why Wane wants to give them both an opportunity before the playoffs start.