For my money it's not match fitness, it's defensive full back play. He didn't have to be faster than Barnett, just had to come in and close him down rather than being indecisive. I really don't think that Phelps has the defensive capabilities of a full back, can anyone honestly remember the last time he made a one on one tackle? Richards to full back for me with Phelps and Tomkins pairing at half back if Leuluai's still out, if he returns then Phelps should probably be dropped, even if under the guise of getting him match fit.

p.s just realised I've slated him a fair bit, I do of course really rate his attacking play and you can tell he's got a good attitude and I think he could make it as a stand off for sure if given a run there.

I was not at the game yesterday but is it not possible that Phelps lack of Match fitness led him to him being indecisive?

When i am Knacked i tend to make stupid mistakes before i feel tired.

Take a look at the video highlights Grimmy. There isn't a full back in SL who would have caught Barnett. Slater [umight[/u have got close. Reminds me of the 'take the outside' try between Offiah and Tate!

I know but you can't really see where Phelps is stood in the build up to those tries, I was at the game and kept shouting for him to move up but he held back, showed him light to the outside and away he went. If we're winning by two in the final and the opposition break the line, would you really want Phelps as your last hope of making that tackle?

Every fullback in the world has been made to look silly in some games at some stage. There is no fullback on the planet that you can be =#FF0040sure won't have something similar happen.

We used to sneak Richie into our Uni side from time to time as our ringer and although he never had the best skills the lad is a natural athlete and a real flyer, could easily have turned his hand to sprinting so there is no disgrace in being left floundering 1 on 1, i would back him to make any fullback look silly in that situation.

he was not far off the pace of barnett in all fairness

He gives up the second time.

He's not quick enough and he doesn't have the sense to position himself correctly so Barnett can't take him on the outside. Never the next Wigan fullback as some proclaim on here. He's a good lad, but not good enough. Certainly not worth a quota spot when we have Amos Roberts available.

But Amos is at his best on the wing.

Same goes for Pat.

Frankly, I don't want wingers at FB.

That makes Phelps the best FB at the club.

And as for quota spots and whatever, we already have one open. How many imports do you want at the end of the season?

But Amos is perfectly comfortable at 1 and always has been, hence his form in that position.

Roberts has been far and away head and shoulders above anyone else at the club playing at 1 which is what makes him the best fullback at the club by some distance, the performances speak for themselves in my opinion.

Phelps needs to find the form of the first few rounds of SL if he is to earn a new deal in my opinion.

Really? I'd say that's open to debate. IMO his best position is fullback and always has been, even in the NRL.
Roberts is clearly the best fullback at the club based on performance.

I dont think Amos is better on the wing. He is our most creative player and is a million times better at fullback in the middle of the park so he can be the core of our attack than being stuck out on the wing with less chance to create things like he does from fullback.