I've been a Coley-critic this season but I've seen a huge improvement from him over the past 3 or 4 weeks and it's fair to say that he's been our best prop over that period.

He's making yards and putting some good hits in, his overall enthusiasm and body language seems much more positive and he seems to be playing with a smile on his face which is great to see.

He mentioned in the South Stand Bar that he knows his performances have been below par and it's good to see him aknowledge that and make the effort to sort it out and his recent performances are reflecting that effort.

Keep it up Andy.

He has, but lets face it, its not difficult to be Wigans best prop of the season is it.

Fair play to him improving, but i would still like to see him run onto the ball with more venom.

I agree but the frustrating this is its contract time and he decides to bend his back, for this reason alone i would not offer him a new deal at Wigan.

Is it contract time for Fielden as well? or does he have another year?

I thought that there was a slight improvement in him as well yesterday

He still got put on his backside though. He seems to start to head to the floor when approaching the defensive line.

Never convinced it is anything more than a coincidence with most players that their form picks up simply because it is contract time.

Some of us seem prepared to make excuses for certain players like Riddell (give him time etc) but if other players start their contract poorly but finish it stronger they are accused of only doing it for a new deal.

Dave

An awesome point.

And tbh although he's 'playing well' he's inconsistent within each game.

He's currently out injured.

I was going to make my own topic on this but here goes:

Lately we have seen completely different Coley to the one we was seeing last season no longer is he walking upto the line with ball in hand but he is actually running full speed and making yards. He seemed to change after the Salford game his enthusiasm went from not being @rsed and lazy in defence and giving silly penalties away to actually looking a decent prop forward for us and is outshining a very poor Fielden which if you would of told me that 3 or 4 years ago I would of lauphed in your face.

I just hope that Coley keeps this up.

Not necessarily anything to do with contract time. More likely is that his form has improved since Noble dropped him, and he realises he's not a shoe-in anymore.

I have never been a coley fan , but must admit he has improved of late.
What i was most impressed with was the fact that during the warm up he gathered the team around and delivered a team talk that everyone appeared to listen too.

Not really seen this since barrett left and we need to be more vocal as a team and have someone to make the lads stand up and listen

Am i saying Coley for captain?

Not sure but still think the captaincy (not Lockers place) is up for grabs

The key difference here is that riddell, had to come halfway around the world, didnt know anyone and had to settle into a different way of life. I have freinds who have gone the other way and found it difficult, so i cant see why a rugby player would find it easier.

And Coley only had to come down the motorway!

I wouldnt give Coley a new contract as i think overall he has been poor in a wigan shirt, however i may give him one on about 3/4 whatever he on now on a season to season rolling with increases for hitting certain targets, but only if nothing better is availiable.

Most workers have such incentive scheme in their contracts, especially where performace is key to the overall outcome of the business.

I am not a Coley fan, but I love the way he has taken a challenge upon himself as he knows he has not been performing, but I would still need to see more to make me think he could be part of a trophy winning pack. Maybe if we had a world class pack like Fielden at his best and Feka doing his thing with one other world class prop like petro then maybe Coley would do on a low wage. Just look at saints and Leeds they both have a couple of average props but they are in a really good pack.

having watched yesterdays game am starting to wander whether Coley and Fielden have had a transplant. fielden seemed to do what Coley used to do and just fell over at the line of tackle.

I agree seen quite a good improvement in his game recently, since the Salford game really, hope he keeps in up!!

There was one drive of Fieldens, i think it was from a KO in the second half, he simply hit the man and fell over. For someone with his size he is embarrasing.

You know I've stuck up for coley for a while and he's finally proving I was right to keep faith but Fielden is just getting on my nerves now it's not right that we have a second rower that would be a much better prop than him and that Coley, a player signed as a backup, is actually better right now.

FIELDEN WAS MEANT TO BE THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!!!!

He was....and "was" is the important word.

Too many miles on the clock.

I agree, Coley has changed his attitude sice being dropped and has been improving since the Salford game. Not quite sure it is just because his contract expires because apparently this is to be his last year before he retires. He is a quanitity surveyor and is looking to go back into that full time from the end of this season. Maybe he justwants to go out on a high note .
Long may he continue to put the effort in!!!

I have always thought people were too quick to write him off but agree that up until the salford game his was playing poorly. He is not the aggressive prop that people want but is a great passer of a ball and if you have noticed has been involved in quite a few tries recently due to his good handling.

Rumour has it that Hull and Harlequins are interested in him for next year which would probably suit him like salford did. Although like Clifford I to have heard that he wishes to retire at the end of this year.

As long as he puts every effort into his last year with Wigan I wish the lad every success.

Pat on the back for Coley!!!

Coley simply isn't at the standard of prop we want at our club. It's that simple.

Even with his latest efforts he isn't good enough.

maybe not but he is currently the best of a bad buch and what decent prop in their right mind would want to come to wigan and play alongside the remaining ones after Coley has gone?? especially with their recent performances. Carvell did not want to come and i doubt thatwas just about money.

Wigan cannot run off its past reputation I am afraid, we dont attract the big names like we used to.

Don't talk wet. You sound like you're willing to settle for a prop like Coley. Don't forget it was only a few seasons back we lured Barrett from Aus. With the right deal we can get in some good props.

and even he did not want to see his contract out

get real and get your cheery/rose tinted glasses off

That's my worry LSoW, "for the right deal"

Yeah, sure if we pay far too much etc, but I'm nt even sure a world class prop would help us much, in one signing we basically are asking someone to carry an entire front row!!

"Hey, Petro, fancy coming to wigan?"
"G'day mate, yeah sure"
"Great...well, we will pay you this, heres some tapes of our front row"
"erm...that your pack? crikey...see ya laters"