Doesn't only half of Longs salary count towards the salary cap?

If that's the case, then would we be able to find a player of that quality, for that amount of money?

How? you are allowed an extra £50k for a player who has had over 10yrs service, but we could use that on wello just as easily

Spot on Longy this year has done nothing to warrant a new contract let alone one for 2yrs


He needs to look at his kicking for a start woefull

Long and KC are both Saints legends, however there comes a time with all players when its time to hang up the boots, or take a step down in intensity.

Chris Joynt was a legend at Saints but knew when to quit and didnt spoil his copy book.

I would hate for Long and KC to fall for the boxers trick of playing on and end up diminishing their immense reputations.

Both can still do it and raise themselves for the big games, but the week in week out intensity does take its tole, and has shown on a number of times this year, when the players have put in performances that are out of character.

At this stage i certainly think Saints cannot afford to offer Long a 2 year contract. At most i would offer him a one year deal, but realistically even that is pushing it.
Its a similar scenario to Willie Talau. Willie could still do the business but sometimes you have to plan for the future and take hard decisions. Remember as a result of Willie going, we have managed to give Chris Dean and Gary Wheeler the opportunity to show their wares.
Wheeler in particular looks a star in the making, and although not yet as capable as Willie, offers the potential in a year or two to be a better player.

KC for me should go out at the top as a legend. Therefore finish at the end of this year.

But it's only for one player per team.

Sean is heading down the Scully route at the moment, playing on despite the best years being behind him and struggling for form with injuries.

2 years is too long and should be halved or be let go by the club, as Ski said the sentiment has to finish soon. We are second to Leeds who have younger players in the same positions. If we want to gain the SL back then we have to start phasing out KC and Long.

thats my point, the allowance doesn't help us retain long if we can use it on another player, as we would use it if he stayed or not.

Joynty would of happily stayed on another year cockle.

I get the feeling either Potter or the club have already done that in some way. Personally I'm really surprised at the lack of game time he's had so far this season for Saints. I would have thought that Long and Eastmonds roles would be largely reversed this season with Long playing more cameo roles with Eastmond starting more.

I was talking to a very eminent ex-Saints player last week, and his opinion of Eastmond was not favourable. He thinks Eastmond will be "moved on" in a couple of seasons.

As you know I've always championed him, but maybe he has an attitude problem, something I have NOT heard btw.

Something I have though.

I get the funny feeling he will end up a Danny Brough, needs to be the big fish in a small pond.

Allegedly there is always a large "posse" around RD and KR on a matchday when he features.

Could he be the youngster that our chairman is so unhappy having lost to you lot?

Eh?

No, Wigan signed a crop of youngsters including one Saints had an eye on.

Old Rogue has implied for a while that Wigan have signed one of our kids, i obviously dont know any details and have never professed to. Hence i asked the question.

No, it's not Eastmond that I was alluding to. That announcement will probably only come in July.

Wigan are really scouring the junior circuits at present to secure more good young talent.

Good!
All teams should be doing as wigan are with the quota rules really starting to bite in the next couple of years.

Is that because they can't grow their own

Do you mean like Eastmond, Moore, Gardner, Wilkin and Bland (what's happened to him?)

Eastmond signed a contract extension last year didn't he?

A spell out on loan may solve that (a la Moore), but then it may not (a la Bannister).

It's up to the club to address that, of course it could just be youthful arrogance that he grows out of.

I don't mind him being arrogant if he has the skills to back it up, but it has been suggested he is not happy to play in the reserves and wont put the effort in. Which is a concern.

Its got to be a rebuilding year next season, but a gradual process.

I suspect from the the senior players coming to the end of their contract ie KC, Gidley, Long and Cayless, two will resign for another season and two will be leaving to pastures new.

That's because Eastmond is always injured.

Didn't realise he'd been out that long injured. Now that he's fit and with Long's apparent loss of form, according to most on here, then maybe there's enough left of the season for him to show what he's capable of then?
It's been good watching Eastmond and Sam Tomkins develop as kids but it would be better to see them face to face in SL.

Reading a report of the Wigan victory over Saints kids the other week, it mentioned Eastmond limped off at the end again.

Re: Long, I'd let him and KC go at the end of the season.