I remember this but at one point in the close season Brian Noble was going to take a number of Wigan players to the Crusaders with him including Carmont, Fielden and Bailey but thats rumours for you.



If as you say Feka did actually find himself playing for another Superleague team (particularly Crusaders) if Brian Noble remains in charge then it would be interesting to see if Feka was asked to put back on the bulk he has lost in pre-season at Wigan, imagine that conversation!



Regardless of his future it would be foolish to think that he will not still have a big part to play at Wigan this season and by doing this he can also place himself in the shop window should another team want his services in 2011 and beyond.

I'm a massive Feka fan but i can't disagree with anything you've put there.



I’d love to keep him on at Wigan next season as I appreciate that not all players/props are the same and Feka’s game is different to that of the other props we have on our books. I like the fact that he can do stuff the other guys can’t and I’d prefer to ‘carry’ a player like Feka in the same way Leeds ‘carry’ Lauititi in that sometimes you need that impact in your team.



But as I stated earlier if he’s replaced at the end of the season by say someone like Lima I will be gutted to see him go but I’ll also understand why he’s been let go as well. I just can’t see the point in leaving him out until the end of the season as there isn’t a quality player to replace him in the squad.



As you said Feka still has a massive part to play in way things go for us this season.

That's pretty much how I feel, too, but I'd hate for him to be playing against us!

Think about what Solomona did to us at Wire and he's just a 3rd rate Feka!



The thought of Feka playing against us isn't a good one at all.

Well since MaGuire has been in charge he has placed a great emphasis on defence. Like many Australian coaches, he practices the theory that defence wins you matches. Collectively we all agreed that Feka would be put through his paces in terms of fitness and has done so quite admirably in shifting off the excess weight. However, to the suprise of many, Feka still continued to be left in the Reserves and was dropped for consecutive weeks. The area that I think we have overlooked is his defence. Feka has become a firm fans favourite due to his barnstorming runs that used to light up our dull rugby, but now we're not playing dull rugby and Feka is no longer capable of having the same impact that he did. IMO, Madge wants Feka to be another prop forward - like Andy Coley & Stuart Fielden - sharing the work rate in both attack and defence. I think he is more than happy to see Feka make a few less metres in attack if he is stronger in defence. Otherwise his great work going forward is wasted if he is pin pointed in defence and is a leak. And as fans, I think we have been somewhat blinded by his vulnerability in defence due to his strength and impact in attack.



So with this in mind, I've been observing his work rate in defence and mobility getting back in the line and from marker and Feka is still very, very slow in comparison to our other forwards - Stuart Fielden and Andy Coley. The area in particular he is most vulnerable at is at marker. I've tried to be more objective in my opinion of Feka, because, like you, he has always been a favourite player of mine, but putting that to one side, I can see why he has been out of favour with MaGuire. So on friday he still looked vulnerable in defence. He isn't as mobile as our other forwards like Coley and Fielden - particularly at marker. We sometimes seemed to overlook this for his metre gains in attack, but now he isn't that player anymore - he no longer makes those metres. He is being moulded into another Coley/Fielden. So he has to put in that workload in attack and most importantly with MaGuire - defence.



Next week should be an interesting team selection if I am right. Many people believe he had a far better game against Harlequins, but we also thought he had a good game against St.Helens. So with that in mind, I magnified in on his defence and I still think he is vulnerable. There is time for Feka to turn it around and, IMO, adapt to the new role he is being asked to play, which he used to play for New Zealand Warriors. Perhaps it is this player MaGuire has seen in the NRL and wants to see again at Wigan, because we have to admit, his condition deteriorated whilst he was here.



Tough times ahead for Feka, the neglect of the conditioning here at Wigan isn't entirely his fault, but unfortunately he is the player with the most work to do. From a personal point of view I hope he can turn it around. My heart says he can, but my head says his days in a Wigan shirt are numbered.

So is he the "World's greatest impact player" or not?

He is.

He did alright against your mob on Good Friday.

Bdumtish!

FEKA



Fair enough he might not be the fittest player on the pitch, but lets go back to the Saints game I think he turned the game around (IMO). He pushed the whole Saints team in the scrum which then Sean O'Loughlin picked the ball up and went 3/4s of the field - then we scored. He also scored a try himself if I can remember correctly. I think his defencive effort has improved, and he isn't as lazy as he was last season even though he is still only lasting several minutes. But he is putting in alot more effort in defence and attack this season.



Now for Stuart Fielden I would of got rid of him after Willie Mason give him a Straightener on pitch because ever since his has gone and the only thing hes got over Feka is fitness. Fielden out then the money we will have from his wages we could get a decent player to either replace Fielden or to strengthen a position.



Adey

You was doing ok until you brought Fielden into it. Fielden does massive amounts of work in defence and under Maguire has been very good going forward. A reduced contract and a 1/2 year extension is what will happen with Fielden.

Sorry mate but I don't agree with that I don't rate Fielden anymore at all. When he was at Bradford he was best forward in England... The defensive situation all the wigan defence is just awesome (except for the last couple of weeks) we could put any player in his position to defend. In attack he runs the ball in 10 metres and gets carried back 15... then he will throw a stupid ball. then in defence he will give a penalty away. 1/2 reducing his wage will not make him play better it would just make him worse just sell him there is many players out there who will fill his position and more for half of his wage. I mean look at Andy Coley recently I know hes been picking up injuries but hes our best forward when he plays.