GIVEN the hyperbole generated by his man-of-the-match effort for Wigan in their win against Leeds this month, Stuart Fielden’s description of his performance as “an improvement” seems distinctly downbeat, but the former Great Britain forward’s caution is understandable. After 18 months failing to live up to his reputation, the 28-year-old does not need telling he still has a lot of ground to make up before those who insist he will never be the player he was accept they could be wrong.

The match statistics suggest Fielden’s reaction is the right one. His work was high quality - 10 carries at an average of 8.4 metres, 23 tackles made, including several that were crucial - but not outstandingly so compared with his fellow front rowers; Gareth Hock had a higher average per carry, while Andy Coley made more tackles.

“Nobody needs to tell me last year I didn’t live up to expectations,” he said, after completing preparations for today’s game at Hull Kingston Rovers. “What did get to me was that a section of Wigan fans did tell me, and that I was still doing my job.

“It was just with the ball that I wasn’t at my best, but that’s one of the main reasons Wigan bought me [from Bradford for a Super League cash record £450,000] of course. It was like being stuck in a whirlpool - however hard I tried, I couldn't seem to get out of it.”

There were reasons, though not, Fielden emphasises, excuses. He lost his mother to cancer towards the end of 2006, and the fact that as soon as the 2007 season ended he went into hospital for a shoulder operation is an indication that he had been carrying the problem for some time.

“I just wanted to be at my best and playing and enjoying my rugby and I wasn’t. It didn’t stop me trying, but I got more and more stick. You expect it off the media or opposition fans, but I’d never been in an environment where I got hammered by my own fans. I’m not saying it wasn't justified; for the money, they expected a superman every game, but they put me under a lot of extra pressure.

“I had sleepless nights, which sounds like I’m saying, ‘Poor me’, but it would have helped if they had acknowledged I was at least trying. I could have given up, gone out there and taken the money, that would have been the easy thing to do, but it tore me to bits that I wasn't performing.”

Head coach Brian Noble’s end-of-season injunction was that Fielden should go away and switch off for a few weeks. That was easier to do after not being selected for Great Britain’s 2007 TriNations squad, breaking a run of 25 consecutive international appearances.

“Tony Smith [the GB coach] rang me and was honest, he told me my form wasn't good enough and he was right. Now it’s up to me to make enough of an impact in the rest of the season to convince him I deserve a place in the World Cup squad.

“The key is to concentrate on the next game and get it right for Wigan. In the past two games we’ve shaped well, the new signings have definitely had an impact. Cameron Phelps looks electric on the wing, George Carmont is a real unsung hero who gets through masses of work and [former Parramatta half-back] Tim Smith might play this weekend. They have given the squad a boost.

“Just because I’ve had a couple of decent games I can’t sit back, and it’s the same for the team. Making it into and through the playoffs is about peaking at the right time.”

The suggestion his confrontation with Jamie Peacock in the opening minutes of the Leeds match indicates he now needs some sort of trigger to dredge up aggression elicits a shrug. “Some players need something to spark them up, I generally haven’t, but sometimes it helps.”

That does not mean, he said, he will be looking for trouble at Craven Park. “It should not be something you need, you have to play with intelligence as well as passion. Rovers will win a good few more games this season. We have to make sure one of them isn’t against us.”