He's got every chance hasn't he. The quota won't help him but playing like he is he's worth his spot without question.

He's got to be our most creative player which is a worry if he's going to miss many games. He's got 4 assists in a game and a half which is some going.

Didn't Phelps get a big hit on Newton when he was clean through, when Fisher scored the try he looked like he couldn't bounce off his foot, otherwise it could have been close he might have shut the gap.

As for Wire on Saturday I would look @ Goulding or Pryce on the wing next to Carmont if we can't get Shaun back from Widnes. But I would love to have seen Josh get a shot but some of you on here think he is not yet match ready. How do we know if we don't give him a go???? (unless he is coming back from a injury)

But it wasn't even 'his' error. The whole team failed to slide and Amos came in to take the ball carrier when he was in a far better position than Phelps to cover the winger! This left Phelps trying to make the best of the situation. How you get this to be a 'cock up' from Phelps is frankly beyond me! I notice you also fail to mention the fact that he covered a 3 man break which was outstanding defence! In fact, when I saw the break I was actually gad it was Phelps facing them as I felt he, if anyone, would diffuse the situation. This thing you have about his supposed weak defence is a nonsense. He's a far more capable defender than, say, Brent Webb and brings as much to the attack. What exactly do you want from him?

Spot on

He did. It was a good piece of defensive fullback play.

Phelps has the talent to be our best player this year. Hopefully its just a knock or a strain and he wont miss too much time. Maybe Ainscough might get a start with Amos or Pat moving to FB?

I have to agree somewhat. Phelps had an outstanding game last night and was on fire in the first half. His attacking attributes have always been there for all to see and has been one aspect of his game I have always praised. He adds a different dimension to our attack. I will be gutted if he is out for a long time.

But defensively there has always been a question mark over Phelps. You cannot just ignore any defensive frailties the lad might have because he is 'brave' or 'good in attack'. It's his all round game you have to judge him on and in the past his defence has been very questionable. I make no apologies for being cautious over Phelps after his performances in the pre-season games seemed to expose his weaknesses in defence on the last tackle play. However this does not seem to have affected him in the opening two games, albeit he has not had too much to do defensively, but what has been asked of him he has done. So I have no complaints with him so far. I thought we would have seen him tested a lot more last night, but our defensive as a team was outstanding and very brutal. Hull KR did not see much ball in our own half and even had he been out in the second half he would not have had much to do, which is good.

So overall I guess I'm saying I'm not getting carried away so far, because Phelps hasn't had much asked of him in defence & I thought (as did he) that Hull KR would test him a lot more with the great dexterity of Cooke and Dobson in the kicking department, but our defence just didn't give them the room. Nevertheless what has been asked of him he has done and in attack he has been outstanding. At the moment, he is one of our best players, but in my defence, attack has never been an area I have had reservations over Phelps. Let's hope he isn't injured for too long as he is a fundamental part of our attacking play.

Phelps is no worse in defence than Webb or Greenshields.

He looked superb and would of been MOM IMO!

Exactly but every Wigan fullback for the next 20 years will be playing under the shadow of Kris Radlinski and people will always expect our fullback to be as good in defence as the best defensive fullback i've ever seen.

Thankfully the great man himself is on hand to help Phelps and whoever may come after him.

We have been blessed with some of the greatest players the world has ever seen! We will always have this problem.

People forget that some of those players also made mistakes though.

Phelps is an attacking FB and IMO he is on of the best with the way he comes into the line, he had 3 or 4 assists for us in 2 games!

He has a kicking and passing game which is none existant with most FB's.

No they don't. (Well I certainly don't). But I do expect him to be comfortable under the high ball, composed when in a one on one situations and have good positioning for kicks close to our line, which last year he did not have and in the pre-season games his defending of the last tackle kicks were poor. But so far (when it has counted) he has done the job, which is great. However he hasn't had much to do either and I guess we will see how he copes as the season goes on and our opposition provides a much sterner test for his defence.

Which is fantastic, but he also has to defend as well.

Which he does