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.

I think he was awesome last year.
And he started this season off well but when he came back int the team he didn't seem to be as good.

It's not a difficult decision. The quota is coming down and we need our overseas players to be the best in the side and in their position. Amos Roberts at fullback on his day he's probably the best in the league - Phelps isn't. He has great utlity value, but when we need to strengthen other areas (like at prop) and we have quota that is coming down, we can't afford to give up a quota spot to a utility player.

Phelps has no future as Wigan's number one IMO for as long as Amos Roberts is in the side and there is an overseas quota. I'll get shot down for saying it, but there you have it. I've called for Phelps to be given a shot at six since Huddersfield away (when we got tonked). Whether he will be given a shot is down to MaGuire. At the moment, the only potential opportunity for Phelps is when Sam plays for England. I just can't see where he fits into the squad. How can you deny Amos Roberts the fullback position in favour of Phelps? You can't. As soon as Roberts is fit you can bet your life that Phelps will be dropped in favour of him.

I prefer Pat & Goulding on the wings with Amos fullback over Amos & Pat on the wings with Phelps fullback anyday of the week.

He's hardly "a million times better at fullback" than on the wing. He's a better finisher than Goulding and he's good under a high ball aswell.

What absolute rubbish. Amos is best when he gets to come in field looking for the ball. He's even said it himself in the match day programme. I quote"I like it at fullback and on the wing - it's good now with Madge here, because I can go inside and look for the ball, and that's what I like. I'm not just stuck to being on the wing, so it doesn't keep me one-dimensional."'"

Exactly. Remember his opening try against Warrington? Would Phelps have scored that?

I don't want to sound like I am getting on Phelps' back, he's a useful little player and great cover for Amos, but that's all he is - cover for Amos. I don't see him getting a contract next year because of the way Amos has been playing.

Im not saying hes rubbish on the wing, hes good on the wing aswell, but its a better option having our most creative player in the middle of everything than on the wing getting the ball less, dont you think?

Spot on. On current form, our best 5 backs are Roberts, Richards, Carmont Gleeson & Goulding, and that's the only combination of the five that works.

Having said that, I value Phelps highly as a utility back, and I'd like to see him stay on that basis, assuming he isn't on a massive salary deal, and also assuming IL has no-one better lined up to take up his quota spot.

Phelps' distribution is better that Roberts'. Amos is fantastic with ball in hand running at the defence, but I'd want Phelps if you're asking the fullback to play as an extra 6/7 as we have done.

Plus Roberts can still come in from the wing to carry the ball.