I can only speak for myself but i think its more a case of if you expect the worst you wont be disappointed, I certainly dont state for fact he'll be injured for long periods its just with our recent track record with injuries it's hard not to think like that, that said if he does manage to play the majority of games and gets a run with the same number 6 i'm sure he'll do wonders for our attacking play.

Well i dont think he will be as much as an influence on the outcome of games as people think. He is the type of player 'who can work well with other class players and see the passes that other halfbacks will miss. But for him to have a bearing on our season overall he needs the players to be playing as a team (Backing up etc) and of course needs to stay fit.

Nobody can say he will be fit or injured for x amount of the season. However I personally expect him to spend as much time in the stands as he does on the pitch (Unless he decides to be the waterboy

)

Wonder who will be waterboy now Hally has gone

Class player.

sean long proved last year that hes still a class player and hopefully if he can have a year without the injuries and have a consistent run with a 6 and i know that we will look a whole better side and would have a chance of getting the top 4

Great for the match winning play or the odd monumental game but not the player who will lead us around the park and get the players around him performing every week IMO

Well we're due a Challenge Cup Final appearance this year (once every three years is the pattern hopefully!), so hopefully he will stay fit and go on to win another Lance Todd trophy and win us a first game at Wembley!

Was a class player, sadly now passed it. We'll get a few glimpses of skill this season but on the whole he'll be very average just like the reast of the side.

Providing we can get Long, Ogre and Fitz out on the park for upwards of 75% of matches I am sure we will be top 6, that plus a decent run in the cup. Having followed SL's career to the extent that most of us have I feel almost certain that he will have one final twist to his career before retiring. I am certain that will not be at OT in October but he may well get legend status by winning LT at Wembley and winning us the cup. If he did that he would get free drinks forever and will be forever remebered by the faithful.
The only problems I see is a tough away draw in the 4th round of the cup and getting the three of them fit consistently.
I have to say that not since the days of the Sharks have I ever felt so underwelmed about a season as I am this coming season.
All seems geared towards big things in 2012 which to me is not the way of an alleged big club.

I would have to disagree, I think when he plays at his best he can take charge of a side and show us the right direction. It's just a point of him getting a good string of games. All clash of opinions though

.

If Long stays fit all season we'll play better than if he doesnt. Simplez.

If SL plays most of the games then we will be challenging for the top 4 imo, still a quality player.

How can you say that? He had two good games against his old side, missed half the season with injury and played very averagely in the rest. Take your rose tinted specs off, this is Sean Long now, not when he was in his prime.

Still a quality player, take your negative specs off!

I think we all know that Long is no longer in his prime. I think when you look at our performances though the things he brings the side like his organisational ability and his kicking game are still up there with the best in the league. Surely that makes us a better side?

yes it was frustrating that he was injured a lot last year but that doesn't make him a bad player overnight imo.

Agree.
HOpefully this year he has a bit more luck injury wise and imo we will see the best out of him..

agree, he's still quality ..but at a lesser quality thatn he was, he's past his best, no doubt about it....only quality when he's on the pitch tho, not when he's in the treatment room..!!! just remeber that....

Has anybody heard the rumour he has been offered a coaching job by Saints?
Was told this by someone who said he got his information within the club.Of course it could be total bull.

There was a rumour in September/October that he'd been offered a player/coach role at Salford which he was considering due to the commute over. Think it was just that though... a rumour. No doubt Long will return to Saints at some point in some capacity but he has been quoted somewhere as saying he has unfinished business here. He appreciates us offering him the 2 year deal and feels he owes us something because of his injuries last year.

Hope you are right,although past his best I still think he has something to offer.

I heard it before xmas,(sts under 18s apparently) not sure if true tho,may coincide with the other rumour i heard.

I've heard that we'll let him leave if we sign another half back. Can't see it being true though

They've already got an u18s coach, Derek Traynor (which is a great name for a coach, incidentally).

A former great, well past it. Picking up a nice retirement package from a club daft enough to pay it.