STUART FIELDEN BEGS WIGAN FANS TO BE PATIENT

I get blamed if it RAINS, says under-fire prop

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By JULIE STOTT, 20/09/2009

STUART FIELDEN has urged hard-to-please Wigan fans to get behind the team as they bid to make play-off history.

The former Great Britain prop is among several players, along with coach Brian Noble, who have been on the end of stick from some fans who yearn for the return of Wigan's glory days.

He said: "Our fans have high expectations and they demand things - but that is fair because they pay their money and deserve to have expectations.

Flak

"Some of the games where they've been very disgruntled are games where we have not performed at all and they deserve better.

"But the flak does hurt. If it rains in Wigan it feels like it's my fault. Probably the worst thing you can go though as a sportsman is abuse from your own fans."

Wigan dominated the game in the 80s and 90s with an incredible eight successive Challenge Cup and seven straight League Championship wins.

Despite winning the first Super League Grand Final in 1998, the Warriors position at the game's pinnacle slipped, largely because they were no longer the only fully professional team in the country.

Fickle

Now they are looking to become the first team in Super League history to get to the Grand Final after finishing as low as sixth in the regular season, and Fielden believes they can only do it if they have the notoriously fickle fans behind them. He explained: "Wigan fans are great - but quite a few still look back to those old days when the Warriors were an amazing team and achieved massive amounts. But you won't get that sort of dominance by one club today.

"I have never not tried in a match. It doesn't mean I play well every week and some games I might be rubbish - but it doesn't mean I'm not trying.

"It would be different if you didn't care and went home and say "Whatever, I'm still getting paid.'

Clash

"But when it does matter to you it can drive you mad. When you've done your utmost and you get flak, your brain doesn't switch off and you think about it for a long time after."

The Warriors go into tonight's clash against Castleford on the back of eight wins in the last 10 Super League matches, and a run to the Cup semi-finals, eventually ended by Warrington.

Fielden added: "It is a big ask to get there from the bottom half of the play-off draw. We would make history if we got to the final - but that's our plan."

Your comments

This article has 1 comment

Stuart Fielding is still one of the best Props in the game in our Country. We have to remember that one man doesn't make a team. He makes a difference. The game is a team game and as such no one person should be made to carry the can for the teams failure to win. They may have contributed to it but the team as a whole should shoulder that blame. Yes Stuart has been a bit below his best but that happens to all players at some point and with the upset in the background at Wigan it is understandable. The new season will bring a new start and it is up to Stuart and his new coach to make a fresh start and put the past behind them. Good luck Stuart keep up the good work and it will all come back.

By Michael G. Marsden.. Posted November 22 2009 at 2:39 PM.

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