Thank you. I no longer need to WAND er about it.

Ignoring the childish aspects of your posts, the point about 'enjoying playing RL' is a poor reason to sign/resign a player in RL. Do you think any player at the club at the moment isn't enjoying their RL? It's clutching at straws was the point I was making.



I can't fault his effort - he didn't want to come off against Hull KR, but I disagree with you about his abilities & would love to know what it is about him that makes him a 'very good back-line player'.

I don't think he has 'simply been unlucky with injuries'. He had a chance against Salford City Reds and was very poor and completely off the pace & then was embarrassed against Sheffield Eagles. I believe he has played in the U20's the last few weeks & so has been fit for selection, but MaGuire has shown more faith in Stefan Marsh & Josh Charnley.

IMO his departure should free up a valuable quota spot & his wages can be used to reward Josh Charnley & Stefan Marsh (Sale are continually linked with him) with new improved long-term contracts.

You were obviously watching a different player than i was then, he was fantastic at the end of last season and before he got injred at the start of this season, and was involved in many of our tries early on when coming into the line. He has been unlucky with injuries, just because you don't rate him as a player you're nitpicking. The fact that Maguire gave him the number 1 shirt at the start of the season means he must have rated him as a player.

IIRC there were many questions marks over his defence after last season. I recall him having an absolute shocker in us getting battered by Huddersfield. He was average at best IMO at the beginning of the season. He did come into the line and setup some tries, but given the opposition and the way the team is playing now I have yet to see anyone struggle to do that at Wigan - Sam Tomkins, Amos Roberts and Pat Richards. What sets Amos Roberts/Sam Tomkins apart from Cameron Phelps and why I see him as no more than average is his lack of speed/acceleration off the mark/footwork/deception and running in open play. I would also question his support play. It was mainly his lack of speed/acceleration that saw him get embarrassed by Richie Barnett at Sheffield. People argue that he is fast, but I would have backed Amos Roberts/Pat Richards/Sam Tomkins to catch him. The second time IIRC Phelps just gave up. Maguire did give him the number one shirt, but was that due to lack of options rather than his ability? Why if he rates him as a player did has he not featured since the Sheffield away game? Maguire has gone with Stefan Marsh, Josh Charnley, Karl Pryce and Darrell Goulding rather than Phelps. If he wanted to accommodate Phelps then he could have done. We've even moved Sam Tomkins a halfback to fullback instead of just drafting Cameron Phelps back into the side.

If Madge is such a fan then why wont he play this week? The answer is the reason I think we should/will release him.

I completely agree

I wouldnt read a great deal into the squad numbers, Maguire was only here a couple of weeks when they were announced.

I would love it if wigan payed me to play for them, and i swear i will smile at all times whilst on the pitch.

can i have a contract now?

On a serious note, there are way to many question marks over phelps for me. the main problem is the players i would pick above him in each position.

FB-Amos, Sam, Richards and Marsh.
Wing-Richards, Amos, Charnley, Goulding, Pryce(if he stays), Marsh.
Centre-Carmont, Gleeson, Goulding, Marsh, Pryce, Charnley.
HB-Tommy, Sam, Finch. (mellor depending on recovery) as well as amos provding cover there. maybe deacon.

so you are looking at at least 3 injury's before he even gets a look in.

Who knows about the next lot of young players as well, i dont see why we should halt there progress by having phelps either taking up a u20 spot all season, or being put in the first team when we have an injury crisis above the young lads.

he seems a nice guy, but you need more than that to be in this wigan squad.

Thats a cracking, professional piece of journalism. If that was on our website it would read "St Helens have decided to release the following players.......we thank them for their endeavour"

Along with hooker, one of our massive concerns for next year is the fullback role. Some people dont like Sam playing a fullback? i dont think he should play there, he isnt as effective (IMO).

I dont think richards should play there, he hasnt the ball handling skills to come in as a third pivot and pass the ball like lockers or sam or finch. I also think richards is such an attacking threat on the wing, which cant be said for him playing at fullback. I think he plays very passively at fullback, not being involved in the attack as much as i would like him too.

Amos Roberts? give me a break. Okay he was glorious at the start of the season, but since we've seen sod all from him, and the worst part is last season a lot were asking what he was even doing in the famous cherry and white. Oh wait he has been injured....

Unlike a certain cameron phelps, whose been completely fit all year long.......

He's not been fit, that's why he's not been given a look in. When we played KR and Crusaders, we had a very very fluent back line. He's ball handling skills are top notch, and he has a very good sense of positioning, and great speed, and can catch the ball.

We need a "proper" fullback, not a makeshift fullback out of a winger or a halfback. I dont know if there's any knocking around on the market but for me, we may aswell use him while we've got him.

Have you been watching him play fullback? He looks outstanding in the role (IMO).

he has been outstanding all season, but if he were to play fullback? then who would play at 7/6? Finch is going to play in one of those roles, but if TL is going to hooker then we are left in such a situation that sam has to play in the halves.

Having a player like Sam, who can switch effortlessly between the halves and full-back is not a bad thing.

Shaun Edwards did it for his first couple of seasons at Wigan. It helped us enormously, and didn't hamper his learning curve in any way.

Also, I don't think we can disregard the potential arrival on the scene of Joe Mellor. This kid is very exciting, and would undoubtedly have made his first team debut last season had he not been so seriously injured.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Mellor in regular contention for a halfback shirt, along with Finch, Tommy and Sam.

I'd agree that since Riddell has announced his departure, we do seem a bit light at hooker, but otherwise we have quality back-up for most of our other positions.

Sorry, I couldn't disagree more.

From the way he can inject himself into the attacking line at will, and the fact he's been nigh on unplayable at FB at times this season I'd say it's by far his best position.

At the Quins game, I thought it was a bad move but I'm more than happy to eat my words.

There is also a possibility Deacon could do another year (if rumours are to be believed - always a risky position)- even more cover then as he can cover halves and hooker at a pinch as well.