If we changed Stuart's contract to 100K a year that will be trebled if he wins man of steel...you would see a very different Stuart Fielden. He is complacent. He's making the big bucks no matter how he plays. Change his contract to a performance based contract and he'll be back to his best in no time.

We'll see a different Fielden next year i'm convinced when he knows he's coming towards the end of his Wigan deal.

Id try and get Fielden out, it would be worth paying him off to free up his cap space for next year. Fielden is Wigans worst signing ever. How such a massive deal can turn so bad is beyond me. He'll be working in his subway shop in 18 months time if he doesnt sort himself out.

He'll have to put in a Golden Boot winning season to deserve a contract the likes of which he's on now.

I dont know how anyone can defend Fielden. He has been shown up by O'Carroll and now Prescott every week. He is supposed to be the pack leader yet he regulary gets manhandled and thrown around by smaller players and is consistantly making errors. He is either finished,got a long term injury or doesnt really have the heart to play for Wigan.

Doesn't quite work like that though I'm afraid!

Surely at the end of this year if things havent improved BN & IL can sit down with him and sort out a mutual release from his contract so he can go somewhere else and maybe have a couple of seasons with someone else? As i'm sure if his form continues like this for this year and next his stock as a player will be nil.

I think the Fielden situation highlights a possible problem with the contracts given to players.

I.e, 4 year deal on x amount. So many times I've heard a fan say 'but we're stuck with him for another 2 years now', which is a bad situation to be in.

Fielden would be mad to leave Wigan early when there's no way he could get that kind of deal any world in the world after how poor he's been in Cherry and white.

How much better would if be if the likes of Roberts and Riddell were signed for a year with the option of...x years. This could put the club in the drivning seat now the player.

Then after the first season, if a player wasn't performing we could release them freeing up cap space.

This would create-

-The play would be giving 100% rather than going through the motions.
-We wouldn't be 'stuck' with a player who is under performing.

Build in other aspects to the contracts, i.e bonuses for different things etc.

I don't like the idea that we're 'stuck' with players.

I absolutely agree; think it unlikely however because the overseas players will want the security a 3/4 year gives.

The only issue with that, is for it to work the Clubs would need to be in the driving seat, i.e. there be a greater supply of talented players on the market than the actual demand for them.

It seems the reverse is actually the case, a limited amount of talented players, with clubs competing for their attention.

It's also curious as to whether a player could be enticed over to the other side of the world for only 1 guaranteed season, unless it was something the player strongly desired (e.g. A 'out of favour/disgraced' or a player heading for retirement)

Also playing devil's advocate for a second, if you look at the 2008 versus 2005 stats.

He played only 4 more games in 05, but was given 102 more carries (more than 30% more ball)



Not trying to defend or attack Stu, it's just an interesting 'blip' on the stats.

2nd half of last season stuart was one of the top props in the comp and very unlucky to miss out on the england team.

I really thought that with a ful off season we would see him back to his best this season, but his game is way off for most of the season.

No signs of aggression going forward or fighting spirit if the goings tough.

I've always defended him butl there seems to be something significantly wrong at the moment - he just isn't displaying the desire of a champion player.