Yeah its a shame such a great servant to the game has struggled so much recently but if he can regain fitness and form surely be worth a new deal that represents the risk gamble on him wigan would be taking.

Fielden's done at Wigan. Get shot of him and a couple of others in the close season and we can get a big name in the pack to help toughen us up against the likes of Warrington...

If he does, he won't have learned the lesson from last year - playing full strength teams in games of little consequence was imo the reason we fell short in the play offs, the players looked jaded and I can already see a repeat happening right now. It looks like a props 'batter 'um' thinking rather than someone who can take a step back and play the situation as opposed to the slightly concerning 'every games a cup final' approach. If the league's wrapped up the St's game is perfect for Fielden to lift himself for an eyecatcher.

There is a fine balance of getting back on form and saving ourselves for later down the track.

We need to start getting back to the form we were displaying a couple of months ago - some players need to get match fitness back - and some players would be an asset if they are fit towards the play offs.

If there is a chance Stuart could feature in the play offs and he is ready then we should play him for the 15 mins Tuson usually plays. If he plainly isn't ready and it would set him back another month then not worth the risk.

Tommy really needs to be playing in at least one of the next two games as he won;t come back 100% straight away - Finch needs to get his match sharpness back and needs game time.

The only players I would look to rest are Sam and MM - both play pretty much every game and are looking a bit jaded - MM should play but be given a longer rotation - ideally with Tommmy.

I think our strongest sisde does include fielden. I would play him before ben flower every day of the week.

Waney has said today Fielden won't play at HKR or Saints barring injuries. He wants him to play U20s first to prove himself.

Personally I would play him against Saints if we have wrapped up the LLS on Sunday.

Hmm I am not sure that I agree with Mr Wane.


SF does not need to "prove" himself to anyone. He has done enough in the past to "prove" himself.

Before Wane arrived I worried that he had the nous to be a good RL coach. I am now revertintg to my initial questions.

Like Mike Gregory before, it's not good enough for the tactics of a RL coach to say "Rip in".

I would love Wane to succeed. He is a Wiganer and an immensely likeable fellow, who obviously has the respect of the players, but I do wonder about his ability to situationally analyse.

I'm inclined to agree with you but suspect what we get told and what is actually said may be slightly different.

I have a feeling we may see Fielden in the first team before the end of the season.

He needs to prove his match fitness, just as any player would after such a long injury layoff; that's nothing to do with his past.

Pats just had 17weeks off, he played 40 mins in the 20's before playing first team.

I have a sneaky suspision that fielden may well be in the 19 if not the 17 on Sunday but wane may cleverly be taking the media pressure away

Pat hasn't been out for 2 seasons and isn't knocking on 33 is he

Could he not just be hoping saints aren't expecting him then let him loose?

False sense of security guys.

I must admit that thought had crossed my mind too.

We've got to be pretty much full strength til the end now. Even if the LLS is tied up by the Saints game we need momentum going in to the playoffs. It's how Wane has used this week off that will be telling IMO. If we have another high error, low completion poor performance like what we have seen over the last month or so on Sunday then we may just about limp to the shield but I can't see us getting much further. If we can get back to near where we were in May and June over the next 2 games and win the first playoff game then we've got a real shot. I said last year I didn't think we'd win it if we had to play in week 2 of the playoffs and I have to say I am going to echo that this year.

With regards to Fielden, if he can prove his fitness then Wane might want to give him a chance against Saints if the LLS is in the bag. It's really unfortunate he hasn't been able to have another run in the 20s or on loan.

I would put fielden, flower, lauaki and tommy on the bench for hull KR. I would try 5 props at hull kr to add some size.