That Lowes lad?

He'll never make anything of himself. Not unless he's converted into a 2nd row forward on a low salary.

Long goes from one set of cheats to another. La Plus Ca Change....

I don't know the indepth of it but it's been leaked to sports journos that his auto-biog coming out soon is a reason behind his departure. there are reports that in it he will name a few other saints players that coined it in when he and gleeson were caught betting

If that's the case, why did they offer him a one year contract?

Good news then, maybe there won't be so many blocking up the A63 as you're trying to get out of the place ....

why do some many people think its a good thing for hull?

they have signed a old man who brings off field issues, the fact that saints wouldn't offer him a 2 year deal. should give a bit of a heads up to other clubs, that they don't think he's good enough/going to last another 2 years. yet a team wanting to break into the big boys club, goes out n signs him



i think it would have been a poor signing for celtic, but at least i could see more reasoning.

Indeed.

He was great as 'the voice' on 'Winner Takes All' ....

I don't think it was as straightforward as Longy not being good enough. He definitely has another year in him and very possibly two. But we are looking at a huge change within the next 12 - 24 months as we lose a couple of major players. To lose both Cunningham and Longy is significant for Saints and with other players coming out of contract this year - Cayless, Gilmour and Gidley for example - we are in a time of transition and this has to be managed. We cannot hold on to someone beyond what is reasonable given the long term future of the club.

FWIW I think it's a good move by saints they have matty smith to come back and kyle eastmond to play 7 if they aren't planning on signing anyone for that role and i don't think long is worth 2 yrs.

Still a blow for St Helens unless they wanted Long to turn down the one year deal they offered to him.

I'm not sure it's a blow. It's something we have been anticipating for a while because of his age and also because the club has to think of the future. Whether we can manage the transition positively remains to be seen but I think it's kind of exciting really, to have some new blood in the team along with some of the long termers! I will miss Long though, not least because of his hair and his entirely unpredictable kicking tendencies.

What off field issues?

Think what you like but I think that this move has implications for us i.e. I could see Burrow leaving for pastures new-call it a gut feeling.

Saints are trying to sign another half back and are very interested in Dobson

He's tied to a long contract mate so if he does leave it'll cost whoever big money!!
I can't see it myself.

Why would Leeds let Burrow go?

Contracted to Hull KR for 2010(?) which would explain the one year extension to Long.

He is OOC this season, Dobson signed a deal for until the end of 2009, with an option of a further year, which I think he is expected to do.

do you think getting ed and leaving your team mates was a one off?

I think Long is a good signing for the simple reason that love him or hate him he's consistently been a winner for Sts. He's exactly the kind of player that could help a team like Hull step up a level.

More interesting in a way is how Sts are going to manage this transition period. I expect they'll do it pretty well - wasn't that long ago everyone was predicting doom and gloom for them when Sculthorpe started to get crocked.

I don't know you tell me?

I think that is why they saw Mick Potter as the replacement for Anderson! He built a team that went from bottom to third in the league in 3 years. He saw Catalans through what was a difficult period, and should steer Saints through a similar times!

Off field problems - dont know about them.......

However, a scruffy long haired man has won a few bob at the bookies with his prediction on where Long would go. ALLEGEDLY I MIGHT ADD!!!!

Not according to this article [url=http://www.engagesuperleague.co.uk/article.php?id=14287here[/url.

To be fair, we're been consistently good since winning our first title in yonks in 1996 - you don't stay at the top for 13 years without handling change.

Since that win in 1996 you could put together some team with player's who have left:

1 Prescott
2 Albert
3 Lyon/Gibbs
4 Newlove
5 Sullivan
6 Martyn
7 Goulding
8 Britt/Fozzard
9 The only constant - The King
10 Baloo/Perelini
11 Joynt
12 Nickle
13 Sculthorpe

We've been handling change for longer than people give us credit for - although I will happily admit that Long and KC are the toughest to replace of the lot - they've been there a long old time.

KC especially.