: Tue May 26, 2009 9:42 am
Fielden was one of the top props in world rugby until a couple of years ago. Respected judges both here and in Australia agreed with this. He's a hatful of medals and awards and should arguably, at 29, be reaching his peak.
I don't think the Mason incident has got anything to do with his demise. He's mixed it in the front row for over 10 years now and was always able to handle himself. I think the stuffing was knocked out of him following the death of his mother. He went on the Ashes tour when not in the right frame of mind and has never been the same since.
It's only the fact that he signed for Wigan in a big money deal that's resulting in people gloating in his demise. Bradford won the WCC in 2006 and the only 2 players left from that team are Deacon and Cook. Can't blame Fielden for leaving, that team was dismantled due to Bradford's well documented financial problems. If he was still at Bradford he'd barely get a mention.
