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Rugby League

Offiah: Fielden can do it

22/06/2006

Martin Offiah believes that Wigan's sensational transfer swoop for Great Britain and Bradford's prop Stuart Fielden can keep them up.

The most incredible transfer deal of the decade sees new Wigan coach Brian Noble take his former player from Bradford Bulls.

Wigan are currently languishing at the foot of the Super league staring relegation in the face.

Offiah thinks this transfer coup could keep them up: "It's a gamble, but they've gone out and bought the best.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, but a player like Stuart Fielden coming in is ideal for Wigan's current plight.

"One man can never make a whole team, but I think Wigan are more interested in the effect he'll have inspiring and leading the players on the pitch."

The £450,000 deal beats the record fee Wigan paid for Offiah 15 years ago. The exact sum has not been released but it is believed to have been over the previous record of £440,000, which is what Wigan gave Widnes for the biggest star in rugby league at the time.

The other roll call of highest ever transfer fees all took place in the halcyon days of league in the 1990s.

Wigan hope that bringing in the world's best prop forward will help propel them back to their own great days.

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