Agar has had his first choice halfback pairing available for selection the entire season IIRC.

Yup

the injuries thing is a smokescreen

Not entirely. We have had an exceptional number of injuries, but have handled the situation poorly.

Yes our half backs lack creativity but they aren't helped by the fact our forwards are a set of soft f**kers plus R.Horne isn't any good without a creative partner.

Have we, genuinely, had more injuries than anyone else though, or is it that our squad is poorly constructed?

first choice half backs yes.thats what he s had to work with.a number 7 who s not a number 7 and a 6 who is clearly not yet over his illness.i will accept agar and the board are to blame for not getting a top scrum half during the close season,but then again they are pretty thin on the ground.

I'm not aware of any other side who have had 10 first teamers out at one go, although Wakefield may have got there at one point. No matter how well constructed your squad is that's going to be hard to deal with. We still should have coped better, but it's not something that can be dismissed as a contributing factor IMO.

Contributing, yes, but far from the sole issue.

Do you know what, even I am sick and tired of all this now, roll on next season.

I'm not suggesting that it is the sole reason. In fact I'm going out of my way to point out that it's not.




Amen to that.

So let me get this right, you dont want Noble one of the most succesful super league coaches ever. But are willing to give Agar a chance, who has done nothing but play boring rugby and send us back even more then sharp did

I've just noticed you're only 30 odd posts behind me now, I better up my hit rate!

Hmm i take your point...i forgot Noble had taken Wigan to the verge of the grand final in the last two seasons...despite finishing in an unfavourable play off place....a challenege cup semi this year (possibly the final) and looks like they will finish around 5th and who know's come the play offs....but that's to be expected as his Wigan side are full of world class players....as left by the prvious coach (Millward)?!





Still i'm with you.......we have Rich Agar, no need to worry on that front hey.........

Tickle is staying up your end

I thought this was a RUMOURS thread

We don't have any decent first choice halves, not as a partnership anyway. That has been one of the main causes of our slump for 2.5 seasons (Adam Dykes' Wembley advanture notwithstanding). Incidentally it's almost a year ago since we were 13 minutes from Wembley glory. Amazing how time passes isn't it ?

When did we last have a top class 7, and I mean seriously top class. I cut my FC teeth watching players like Makcey, Entat, Hasler, what have I seen since, Horne and Thorman.

But it's okay, we've got a player coming in next season who St's have turned their back on, and yet I am meant to be happy, and a past it Auzzie for a year.

Casper?


In the interests of accuracy, Saints did not turn their back on Long.

Calling Fitzgibbon past it is harsh as well.

Or even Fitzgibbon

If he isn't, then why only a year, likewise Saints offered Long a year, there is a reason for that you know.

Kearney came on a one year contract, and Saints didn't base their offer purely on Long's ability and/or age.

In any case the simple fact is that both players are a big step up from what we have now. For the first time in years our recruitment is at least moving in the right direction.

Although it does have an optin for another doesn't it? Maybe he's not confident he'll settle, particularly if his supposed best mate isn't here after next season as well.



I believe it's called 'club policy', and is applied the same for Kieron Cunningham. The only difference is that Long isn't willing to accept it.

Saints have 2/3 young halves who are loking like they are ready to play SL, they can't hold them back forever or they risk losing them. Think they wanted another season of Long to integrate these young players a bit more and then bring them in fully for the year after. However Long wants to play at this stage of his career and not be possibly swapped around and he also wanted a two year deal. They never turned their back on him, they wanted him whilst recognising they had other options coming through.

Fitzgibbon is slightly different as he has never played over here before, so Hull are doing the right thing in only offering him a one year deal.

Having a few older players is not an issue, getting the right blend of youth and experience is very important. We need leaders and role models and Long and Fiztgibbon are exactly that.

That is complete garbage. Fitzgibbon played for Australia last year FFS.

Malcolm Andrews reckons he is the best overseas SL signing in years, I trust his opinion.

Fitz was also borderline origin for this year wasnt he? Any talk of him being past it is absolute rubbish.