That is the main issue and the thing that concerns me most. I understand and expect that we will struggle when Long does not play, but I don’t expect us to be so clueless and predictable.

World RL is simply not awash with specialised half backs that will happily go to a team to effectively be a back up. Most teams will struggle when their leader is absent, see Warrington on Saturday night when they lost Briers as an example, what is not acceptable is churning out the same dull, uninventive performances from the same combinations whenever we are behind the 8 ball because our recognised leader is missing.

For all his supposed injuy prone-ness i dont think his record is that back

2009 22
2008 23
2007 17
2006 22
2005 20

What are these the stats for?

Games played per season?!

Your right hutchie there is no way Saints saw injuries on the Longy's horizon and thought it was time to get rid.
They simply thought they were sitting pretty with plenty of cover in that position. A bit like us really !!

But they do have good standard replacements for Long, unlike yourselves.

are these just league games though? if you consider saints have made the challenge cup final and grand finals most of these years thats roughly 34 games a season in the present format (four challenge cup games, 3 playoff games) so 17 games out of 34 is not so encouraging

just SL Games

just had a look at his worst year 2007 and he missed games 14-20

So hes hardly what you will call a tampon

length of tme Long is out changes every day, maybe back for Cas game, now definitely back for Wigan game,

Rest assured that all this messing about is seriously messing up the oppositions game plans.

mm still not optimistic for Friday, especially if Tansey not in the squad

saints always played more games than everyone else though

And your top drawer replacement for Dobson would be..?

No wonder they won the league then, if they got more SL fixtures than the others

Played more than most when it includes play off games though

We'll see when the time comes

If Dobson were injured on Saturday, who would you go with?

Not cookie by all accounts

Cooke would take over the roll, he did it aptly for you

Sausage roll?

Doubt he'll be playing a pivotal role on saturday if what I was told today is true

Well we all know he'll be gone at the end of the season, if they've fallen out again as it would seem then it may quicken the process and he will join Mr Kear sooner rather than later

So if Cooke goes, who's your top drawer back up for Dobson?

Jake Webster can slot in anywhere.

And Murrell with his lightning pace and pinpoint distribution.

can we try and get back on topicish please.