To be honest with you. I'm more worried about our lacking of an effective kicking game. I just hope with Long back we have other options in this department. At the moment we start having to defend a set on the opponents 30 which is just too much pressure for the full 80 minutes.

I don't know if you went/listened to the Wigan game but Phelps seemed to be doing some kicking, and if memory serves I think Houghton did on one occasion.

And on a different note, Briers has signed a 1 year extension, is that an indicator of what's available for next season, or just a good move by Wire?

(maybe this is the new "rumours"/ general SL thread)

I have had loads of those in the past few days and I suspect most of us have



Mind you I have not tagged them to here, Facebook or Twitter

He hasn't hit the heights of his earlier career for sure. In particular his kicking game hasn't helped us at all although it was never his strongest attribute. I think he improved us last year - certainly an improvement on recent scrum half options. Against Rovers he was pretty creative for three of the tries we scored and took it to their line well - not so against Leeds for half a game where that last kick was again poor.

Overall we need to keep attacking players like him in the team. The pack has improved since he last played and to have more attacking options must be beneficial, particularly as the shortage of attacking options has been so heavily criticised in the last couple or three years.

Yeh I was at Wigan and you're right; Phelps showed some good signs and Houghton started to kick better in the second half. There nice options to have but i'm more worried about our general end of set kicking game when it goes to Obst or Horne. We very rarely turn the fullback. I'd think improvements in this area will really make us a difficult team to beat this year.

bang on the money Staffs, anyone who goes to watch the team can see we are usually a better side with him in it !!

Indeed, but texting and emailing close friends is one thing, tweeting is just idiotic.

Posting them on Facebook isn't too clever either






I don't disagree, I just fear he's past being worth what he's costing. IF we keep Horne next season then I can see Horne and Obst at 6/7, makes sense to play that combination this season to me. Popular opinion so far tells me Im wrong, but then I've never been one for simply agreeing with an opinion because it's popular.

And WYFC, as Staffs has said, Long's kicking game isn't great.

Anyway ..eastmond
Very over rated IMHO and will be back to RL very quickly because i just cant see him settling and better than him have tried and failed, just because it has the word rugby in the title they think its an easy switch ... as we know rarely both ways is it easy ...
I remember recently sitting at a dinner with a certain former British Lion tourist who said the hardest thing he ever had to do was move to league because it took him 12 months to get fit and then another 12 months to get over the shunts he recieved in his first four games!!
cant see Eastmond fitting in union somehow, his attitude will not help either

If long had a desire to go back and they wanted him then I'd be happy for the colub to let him return and then use the money saved to try and tempt luke gale away from quins or maybe give moore a shot. If saints and/or long don't want it to happen then we're in no worse a position but losing him wouldn't significantly weaken us IMO as I doubt we'll get more than 6 or 7 games out of him this season

Bailey is a disgrace

Eastmond isn't switching to League though, he's going in the other direction so that's pretty irrelevant to your point.

If Long actually played it might be more of a loss but as it is if he went back to Saints we'd be losing very little anyway. Id agree on Moore but thats never gonna happen and weve no chance with Gale

Just a thought,why uproot his family when he will be leaving at the end of the season? I have no doubt his heart is with Saints,with whom he had a successful campaign,who can blame him.Despite some peoples corncerns I still believe he will give 100% when on the pitch.(Rare I know.)

From the Bath RU forum:

Chatterbox


Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:01 am
Posts: 3592
Location: Not as close as I'd like to be...

Re: Kyle Eastmond
I'll say it now.

I think we have signed another Chev, Eastmond comes across as a spoilt, chavvy, estate dweller.

I've said it before and i'll say it again, dobson is going to st helens before the end of the season!

been told Francis Meli is or has apply for a Samoa passport and if he get it well come off the quote and then saints have a free quote place

April 1st

But what concern is to us?
Yours ,
Mystified.

www.chanlawyers.com.au/asps/Seri ... onduct.asp

www.chanlawyers.com.au/asps/Seri ... onduct.asp

Surely getting rid if long would leave you with no cover in the halves which is what everyone was slagging agar off for. He may not be fit now but will be soon and your squad must be stronger with him than without.

Reckon saints would take him if he could prove his fitness, think you'd regret it tho.

Disgusting man. Definitely why Radders avoided his ban - his reputation does, indeed, remain intact.

Long should be going nowhere and won't be. He is our first choice SH and still has plenty to offer and whilst we have not seen him at his best I think he has done well for us.

As for Eastmond, I can see a year or so in Union and then he will come back.

Long will be going back to Saints as soon as Eastmond is discarded

I would prosume that Hull would be entitled to a transfer fee then !!

You assume they want one