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:







Amos has the distribution skills to link up in attack because he has previously played at stand off. His biggest threat is his open field running and returns of the ball. He's elusive, powerful and very quick. So it makes sense for him to play fullback. Did you not see his performance at Castleford? You obviously didn't otherwise you wouldn't make the above statement. Watch it.



His stats from that game btw were:



Tries - 3

Assists - 3

Metres - 202

Carries - 18

tackles - 3

Busts - 8

Breaks - 4



Do you honestly believe Phelps would have managed that?



Cameron Phelps is a very likeable player because he's friendly and smiles a lot. A couple kisses of the badge and people will defend him to the death. However with the Cherry and White speccies off, he isn't as quick, powerful, elusive or as dangerous as Amos Roberts. Roberts is the far greater athlete. Did you not see him swot off those Wakefield players for that great solo try? Do you really think Cameron Phelps could replicate that sort of skill, speed and athleticism?



Amos Roberts would have caught Richie Barnett. Both are very quick, but Roberts would have got him. I would have even bet that Roberts would have been in a better position than Phelps to not let himself get beat on the outside.







I don't understand what you mean by this.



The Quota is coming down quite considerably compared to previous seasons. So we need our overseas players to be of the best at the club and one of the best in their position in Super League. Amos Roberts is the best fullback at the club and is one of the best in Super League. Cameron Phelps is not. He's a good player, but isn't worth a quota spot. So therefore because we need to strengthen in other areas - such as at prop - we need to keep our quota spots open to sign up players in other areas.

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.

I think the real question is Goulding or Phelps? Amos and Richards walk into the team obviously but imo the last place is between them two, i think im right in thinking both of them are off contract at the end of the season? At the beginning of the season I would have said Phelps every time but Goulding is on fire this year, does the fact that hes home grown and doesnt count on the quota push him ahead abit? Or can we afford to keep both?

I think we can afford to keep both, but IMO Goulding deserves to be ahead of Phels on this season's form so far, so if one of them has to go, then it's bye bye Cam, I'm afraid.

Personally I think its in the best interests of the team to keep both, as for instance this year now, as soon as an injury occurs, we may need somebody to fill in for us

Phelps wont be on a big salary unlike some others that are off contract, he does take up a quota spot although we already have 1 quota spot free. If Amos is injured next season, who will step up to the plate, is Vievers really SL quality?



Fullback is a very important position, if your fullback is dodgy your in trouble (mathers

) I think phelps has good utility value even when not playing at FB



Anyway he has at least 3 months to prove himself, there is nothing better to motivate a player than his livelyhood thats for sure

I really cant agree regards his distribution and linking. Phelps has thrown a few eye catching passes early in the season, but for me Roberts distribution is very much underrated. He too has thrown some cracking long passes, but he has also shown great ability with his short balls.



The "superior" distribution has often been used to defend Phelps, who is no mug, but I have to rate Roberts ability to link with his fellow backs and his distribution superior, would be interesting to compare try assists.

I think Phelps pre-injury was leading the way along with Lockers. Don't know how Amos did once he was at fullback but he must have had quite a few.