Wigan prop Fielden admits being 'rubbish' in Tri-Nations

Stuart Fielden has given an honest assessment of his performances for Great Britain in the recent Tri-Nations series, admitting: "I was rubbish."

The Wigan prop, 27, became his sport's most expensive player when moving to the JJB Stadium from Bradford but endured a nightmare time in the southern hemisphere.

"I should have done better, and that's all there is to it," Fielden said. "I was hugely disappointed with how poor I was and I won't be making any excuses. I was rubbish."

The front row forward, who was among several disappointments on tour as Great Britain finished bottom of the tournament table and failed to reach the final, declined to blame the death of his mother shortly before he flew out with the national squad last month.

The world's costliest player at £450,000 said: "The bereavement wasn't something I wanted in the public arena, but it sneaked out. I made the decision to go on tour and I still think it was the right decision."

Fielden, who joined Wigan from Bradford in mid-summer to help save his new team-mates from relegation, admitted he was outshone on tour by his former Odsal team-mate Jamie Peacock. "Jamie was outstanding." he said. "He thoroughly deserves his award, especially considering I was alongside him doing absolutely nothing."

But Fielden is looking forward, saying: "It means a lot to play for your country and it isn't nice to feel you have let yourself down. But I will be using it as an incentive to have a great season with Wigan in 2007."

The charity boxing match between Fielden and England second row Lee Radford, meanwhile, will now take place at the Hull Arena because of the extraordinary public interest the event has generated.

The two former Bradford Bulls team-mates are getting into the ring for "The Rumble By The Humber" to help raise funds for Steve Prescott, the former rugby league star who is suffering with stomach cancer.

The fight had been scheduled to take place at the KC Stadium, but demand has exceeded supply to the extent that organisers have made the switch to the nearby Arena.