All I'm saying is that if he is supposedly touch and go for this game and is subsequently missing for the next 3 games we have been lied to with regards the extent of his injury.

Why move a player from his position? We have done that all too often in previous seasons and got nothing from it. Berrigan has been a much better player at 9 and he should stay there. Everyone has been singing Turners praises so lets see if he is up to the job.


P.S. Agree with you Robbo, no need to play mind games for this week or next week to be fair the only people they will end up misleading are the supporters.

A bit of experience will be needed I reckon. I'm not keen on either Washbrook or Turner playing in the halves never mind them playing together. I'd be more confident with a Washbrook / Berrigan partnership then a Turner / Washbrook one.

I dont really see what "edge" we get over the opposition by pretending Long has a chance of playing this week. Odd that we seemed quite happy to announce Calderwood had a Hamstring injury prior to the first game.

Surrounded by experienced players and Berro will be steering them from acting half most of the time as well. Fitzy will also be on hand to offer encouragement etc. If it is not working substitutions can be made to rectify.

so maybe you can tell me why we name someone in a squad who has no chance of playing for the next few weeks? if horne/long are out so be it-shall we just name them in the squad for quins-just for a laugh??

Bit different with Calderwood though. Long is a vital part of our team so Noble might focus on targetting him and have a specific game plan ready, where as with Calderwood is only on the wing and wouldn't of made a real to the oppositions game plan.

Calderwood isnt a pivotal player though. It looks as though Justin Morgan is employing similar tactics this week with Galea.

I doubt coaches have specific game plans for specific halfbacks to that extent. They all pretty much do exactly the same job with varying degrees of success. Longs main strength is his organisational play, how would an opposition gameplan stop him organising the attack?

Id still go in with what I said, with the experience in the halves. Turner will get his games but I don't with he should be chucked in, with a makeshift half back partner.

Who said anything about organising attacks ? They could have a basic game plan of running at Long and tiring him out.

Washy & Berro failed last year why do you think they will fare any better this year?

Again I dont see how a coaches gameplan would significantly differ if Long is playing or not. Most teams focus on their own style of play and the overall style of play of the opposition rather than focusing on particular individual opposition players.

Or that could be the gameplan regardless of who the halfback happens to be? Any "edge" we might get from pretending Long has a chance of playing is so marginal its not worth misleading the fans IMO. All of this is hypothetical ATM anyway and we will only know if he doesn't play next week.

Behind a better pack.

Why does it matter if its misleading the fans ? I know I wont be losing any sleep over it. Theres only Moa or one of the younger players who could of come into the 19 anyway, if it puts any doubt in Nobles mind then its worth it.

The Crusaders will have to include Long and Horne in their pre match training plans for the opposition. Also why put added pressure on whoever is gonna play halves if both are missing? Makes sense from both angles to me.

Pack was not the problem last year.

I don't get what all the fuss is about. No body on here even knows which players are definitely out other than those announced by the club. If they did you would have to assume letting that information out without the clubs consent would result in them not being privvy to information like that again. People who lack integrity generally are not trusted with sensitive information.

The only conclusion that can be drawn from what we know to be true is that Long and Horne are carrying knocks and will be given every chance to play.

There is nobody else in the Hull squad who can play the same role as Long. You will therefore have to slightly adapt your style of play if he doesnt make it. I would do exactly what Agar is doing, assuming of course that Long is a doubt at all.

I'd say any edge we gain, even the slightest edge, is more than worth misleading the fans for, why should the fans get to know the ins and outs of our line up or the tactics prior to the game.

Sean Long is our main man, therefore part of Noble's game plan will have been to minimise his threat. They will have watched videos of him during the week to see the way he plays and look for chinks in his armour. If all of a sudden the teams are announced and for example Tansey is at 7, all that work will have been for nothing. The Superleague is so tight that it's the little details that often win games, any little bit of information is useful to the players, whether it's which moves he likes to use or which shoulder he tackles better with.

The fact that someone comes on here claiming that Longy is out (and lets be honest, they don't know either way), and you then claim that the club is in some way decieving the fans is laughable. Besides, Agar's explanation has been perfectly plausible so far, I reckon it's more than likely that no mind games are going on at all. They are been given until the last minute to prove their fitness, they may play or they may miss out. He has brought Turner into the squad just in case they do miss out.

I dont like being lied to. If a player is likely to be out injured for the next 3 weeks then just say so.

Again this is all hypothetical ATM.

Whats laughable is your comprehension skills. At no point have I said the club [uARE[/u deceiving us. I have simply stated that if Long is touch and go this week with a bang on the leg he should have no problem playing next week. [uIF[/u he is subsequently out for the next 3 weeks with a hamstring problem as some people are claiming then clearly the club have misled the fans as to the extent and cause of the injury.

Nail on the head !
Come on people, a Dobbin comes on here and claims that Long is definitely out for at least a month and some on here are believing it.
That is unless you believe that Agar for the next four weeks is gonna include Long in his squad simply to pull the wool over the oppositions eyes !!!


There must be even a slim chance he will play some part on Sunday with Agar giving him right up to kick off to assess it or he wouldnt be there on the list , Simples !

Thats not necessarily the case.