I agree, Roberts is the better player and the better long term option for the team.

We will never know how Phelps might have turned out, he didnt get his chance @ 6, and injuries and the form of Amos saw him loose the fullback slot.

I'll be sorry to see him leave, as he is a genuinely nice fella, never gave less than 100% and loves playinf for Wigan, but sadly, with the likely signings we are going to make, and the potential of Goudling/Pryce and the others we have coming through. Average imports like Phelps are a thing of the past at Wigan I feel.

Agreed, but there is a stronger argument that the 13 is better with Phelps in as opposed to Goulding/Pryce IMO. ATEOTD it's pretty moot now. His season's been ruined through injury and he probably leaves at the end it. Onwards we go.

Roberts = Best fullback at the club

Goulding = Top try scorer in the league.

We're obviously not short of attacking options, so I don't see how replacing the leagues top scorer with Phelps who is very poor defensively (imo) would be of any benefit to us.

Ainscough was top try scorer for a while too. As Cruncher said, he can't believe anyone thinks Phelps is better than Roberts. I would find it equally strange that anyone thought Goulding was a better player than Phelps but, as I said, it's all moot now.

I do think Phelps is a better player than Goulding, but Phelps doesn't play on the wing. Roberts is a better fullback, and Goulding is top try scorer on the wing.

I don't see why the roles have to be fixed?

Play Roberts as "right winger", but let him follow the play the ball from far out to latch onto offloads/dummy half plays for the breakthrough runs, and close to the line drift right to latch on to sweeping movements that way to finish off well from overlaps etc. Let him defend on the right and then drop back to a centre-right position for kick returns, with Richards in a centre-left position with his safety in return.

And then play Phelps as an attacking fullback, a third (fourth when you factor in O'Loughlin) pivot, particually left sided as he passes better that way (how easily did he set up Richards with cutout balls at the end of last year and start of this year), and even sticking around the ruck similarly to Roberts when play is on the left from deep.

I feel this would be a much more threatening team than with a static right winger who just ends movements and scoots (although Goulding does both of these very well).

EDIT: And I think Phelps can play wing as he did at Catalans(?) first season he came over with decent finishes, but I find him a bit wasted there and Goulding does a better job.

Mainly because I think you can stick anyone on our wing this year and they'd score a lot of tries, therefore as Roberts is the better fullback i'd play him there. Its the more important role, and I just feel he's a bit wasted if you put him on the wing.

I didn't suggest sticking him on the wing.

If anything I suggested playing with something resembling two attacking fullbacks at the expense of a permenant right winger.

I didn't mean stick Phelps on the wing either, I'm just meaning that we should be trying to make our fullback as strong as possible, even if it means weakening our right winger, if that makes sense?

This might sound odd - neither of them on the right wing.

Well not most of the time, just close up or drifting there behind play from further out. Play them both as fullbacks in attack.

But surely then that just removes having a right winger, narrowing the team and in essence making Gleeson the winger?

Sounds good in theory, but in reality I think you'd then lose all the tries Goulding has gotten by having the overlap on the right.

Probably would contract play to be honest, unless you tried to remedy the problem by keeping Roberts towards the right so he can track behind the play, and recieve the final pass similar to how we spread the ball now (more behind than flat) giving him a bit more room in attack.

It is the major drawback but I believe it would allow greater distribution across the park with more options keeping opponents guessing. But the walk in tries may become more sp, and we have become good at that this year...

I don't know maybe I'm being a bit selfish wanting to see the two better attackers than (almost) just a put-down winger