your not wrong there with 100% effort and entusiasm,wasnt sure about him at first but he is turning out to be a fab signing.can see why you will miss him,oh and your last bit about washbrook not a chance pal

just seen this thread, was posting the question on the MOTM thread, apologies.

Why does Long walk back into the side, Obst has done more in the last two games than Long has done in some considerable time?

I would think because our kicking game is poor. We hardly ever find any space and rarely go deeper than 20 metres into the opposition half. Long can provide the kicking game we desperately need.

Oh right I see, which games come to mind where Long has provided that for us so far?

I don't think Long should oust Obst, however a good option might be to start with Long on the bench and when Houghton needs a breather Obst can slot into hooker and Long comes on at 7?

I said the same thing yesterday, wonder if it would be too much disruption though.

seems to me from what I heard and others have said that Phelps did some good work putting boot to ball yesterday?

It was a good kick by him for Tommy's try I think. People have spent a long time asking for better attacking play so let's get our best attacking players in. As said above start with Horne/Obst with Long on the bench if necessary . Give the opposition some different combinations to think about during the game.

Is Long a sensible bench player, he can't play any other position, can he?

Yeh he looked good.

His first chip gave us a repeat set and on that repeat set his second chip gave briscoe his try.

He will certainly give us more options.

We really struggled to get on the front foot against Wigan. Obst doesn't have the distance on his kicks and Horne kicks too high resulting in an easy catch for either the fullback or wingers.

No I would prefer Long to start and not to be subbed to be honest. But I don't see how it's justifiable to keep Long out of the team in favour of Washbrook. Not when Houghton and Obst are both excellent hookers.

Unsure on this one TBH. Obst and Horne seem to playing well and working really well together, but sounded at times like Washy wasn't doing a great job at hooker. We need Houghton to playing at his best, so I would be tempted to put Long and Horne in the halves and Obst rotating with Houghton. Can always get Long off if it isn't working so well.

All on for Longy now, will be his biggest test for him to up his game since he's been here.

Obst is a perfect bench player so it would make sense to use him there but if only if Long is 100% fit.

He hasn't provided in all his other starts why do you expect Long to now start kicking well for us??? I have always held the belief that no player should expect to walk back into the team. Especially when the person covering their spot plays well. For me it is now Obst position to lose and Long's to win it back.

Think the same, but it's the first chance Long has had proper half back compeition since he has been here. Might be the kick up the backside and competition he needs.

obst came to haven as a number 7 and played very well there www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSIdXcXv52Q

obst came to haven as a number 7 and played very well there www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSIdXcXv52Q

Long is not interested anymore that's plainly obvious so why should he walk straight in and play,when he does it's a lacklustre performance

Harsh. How do you work that out?

I tend to agree he doesn't seem to have that buzz this season , when longy started last season in horney's testomonial and saints away he had that cockyness and bit of cheek he looked fired up haven't seen that in him for a while

Exactly what we have to do. On his day when fit Long is a world class 7. He has to play when fit. Obst is playing very well at 7 but lets not get carried away, he was brought in to spell Houghton and that's still what we desperately need him to do.

On his day - how many has he had for fc ?

How many times has he been allowed the opportunity to get himself fit when we've not been forced to rush him back?

True mate but I just think Obst has done a really good job at 7 and the team has improved when he has being in the team .

How I see it too. Long was OK against KR - probably one of our better players that day despite having no pack to play behind for most of the match. As you say Obst was hired first and foremost to play hooker and he and Houghton could be very good swapping around that role.

Long to start on bench. Horne 6 Obst 7. Obst to spell Houghton and Long to cover scrum half while Houghton's off.

Apart from anything else - it's Long's first game back from [ianother[/i injury. He needs protecting and keeping fit for the back end of the season.