: Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:01 pm  

Addressing the point made much earlier in this thread that this is another Alan Hunte situation:

Unfortunately for Hull (and, I think, Hunte), he was offered staggeringly generous terms by the club. They were also staggeringly WRONG. During his entire career (right up to his last GAME in the playoff final) Alan Hunte was one thing: an outstanding finisher.

At Saints he was one of my favourite players. He was quick, athletic, big, strong, agile, hand great hands, but most of all he knew where the try line was. When Hunte signed for us it was to play on what was traditionally our weakest side of the field (although he could play either equally well). Saints were always at their best spinning the ball to the opposite side of the field and yet he still managed to weigh in with a significant number of tries. After his opening season he never stopped scoring. Long and short range, latching on to grubber kicks, leaping high to steal the bomb away from the defending winger (his speciality) and plenty of good supporting tries. Season after season he weighed in with a bagfull. Then Bomber got the idea to move him into the centres.

At first it seemed pretty logical (many Saints fans still think this way) and it certainly paid dividends in tries. But Hunte - Gawd bless 'im - didn't function at his best when his rugby involved an element of THOUGHT. He was an instinctual player. Thinking hampered his game. Missed tackles. Poor options to his winger. Passes dropped that he would have snaffled (and gone fifty to score) on the wing.

When Hull came knocking (I was furious at the club for keeping Goulding in favour of Hunte) he was offered terms that could only ruin his game. Full back AND captain?!?! Pure Thinking OVERLOAD for Huntey. I just couldn't believe that Hull were THAT daft. He should have been a great player for you guys.

Long is another instinctual player, but he's demonstrated time and time again that he can think to match-winning effect. Thankfully, his position is cast in stone (provided Agar doesn't suffer some kind of weird brain spasm and play him at hooker like Andy Goodway did for GB). I'm not so sure about him being made captain. But I don't think it will be a problem.

So, no - you cannot draw parallels between Hunte and Long.

: Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:12 pm  

Raggytash wrote:

You are now Troll enemy no.1 worldwide!

I am not unhappy with the signing of Long I am just pointing out that 90% of players that sign for any club always say they've been persuaded by the coaches vision, whoever that coach may be. All long term fans will recognize the pattern. it's like there's a manual full of generic responses to all certain situations in Rugby League. The chances of Long's signing mainly being down to Agar's vision are slim indeed. This applies to most signings in fairness.

I honestly don't mind if some teenager accuses me of being a troll, my opinions aren't validated to me by having any other posters approve them.

Unlikely given his support of that soccer team whose glory days were about 10 years ago now IIRC. Early twenties i'd guess.

: Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:13 pm  

FoD FC Army wrote:

Unlikely given his support of that soccer team whose glory days were about 10 years ago now IIRC. Early twenties i'd guess.

Wrong but never mind

: Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:15 pm  

Raggytash wrote:

I am not unhappy with the signing of Long I am just pointing out that 90% of players that sign for any club always say they've been persuaded by the coaches vision, whoever that coach may be. All long term fans will recognize the pattern. it's like there's a manual full of generic responses to all certain situations in Rugby League. The chances of Long's signing mainly being down to Agar's vision are slim indeed. This applies to most signings in fairness.

I agree, it's pretty much a trademark saying when it comes to new signings, my qualm was with your negativity in other threads.

: Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:32 pm  

Raggytash wrote:

You are now Troll enemy no.1 worldwide!

I am not unhappy with the signing of Long I am just pointing out that 90% of players that sign for any club always say they've been persuaded by the coaches vision, whoever that coach may be. All long term fans will recognize the pattern. it's like there's a manual full of generic responses to all certain situations in Rugby League. The chances of Long's signing mainly being down to Agar's vision are slim indeed. This applies to most signings in fairness.

I honestly don't mind if some teenager accuses me of being a troll, my opinions aren't validated to me by having any other posters approve them.

I agree with your point in general though mate.
It's not as if he would have come out and said he thought the coach was a joke and simply signed for the money and the prospect of playing alongside Thorman,

Like I said earlier though, if we can get him coaching the youngsters it would be a massive benefit IMO

: Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:13 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

Full back AND captain?!?! Pure Thinking OVERLOAD for Huntey. I just couldn't believe that Hull were THAT daft.

They weren't quite THAT daft. Hunte played at centre for us, with Prescott (part of the same deal, along with Simon Booth) playing fullback.

: Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:55 pm  

Gordon Gekko wrote:

TBF I find that story as it stands very beleivable. Why at this stage of his career would Long want all the hassle and pressure of signing for Saints bitterest rivals?? Makes much more sense to sign for Hull imo and he'd clearly made a commitment, so good on him.

Just what I thought. He has to live over there and has probabky heard about judas cooke's problems when he shifted

: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:00 pm  

Raggytash wrote:

You are now Troll enemy no.1 worldwide!

I am not unhappy with the signing of Long I am just pointing out that 90% of players that sign for any club always say they've been persuaded by the coaches vision, whoever that coach may be. All long term fans will recognize the pattern. it's like there's a manual full of generic responses to all certain situations in Rugby League. The chances of Long's signing mainly being down to Agar's vision are slim indeed. This applies to most signings in fairness.

I honestly don't mind if some teenager accuses me of being a troll, my opinions aren't validated to me by having any other posters approve them.

To be fair, I would have thought that with the additional costs of travelling/relocating, any offer from wigan must have been at least as financially lucrative to him. I suspect that the thought of signing for saints' bitterest rivals would have been a more influential factor than either a few extra quid or the shining personality and vision of agar. The saints fans still hate gary connolly and he signed for wigan about 20 years ago

: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:59 pm  

Jake the Peg wrote:

To be fair, I would have thought that with the additional costs of travelling/relocating, any offer from wigan must have been at least as financially lucrative to him. I suspect that the thought of signing for saints' bitterest rivals would have been a more influential factor than either a few extra quid or the shining personality and vision of agar. The saints fans still hate gary connolly and he signed for wigan about 20 years ago

Thought Longy was off to Salford. When is Fien signing by the way ?

: Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:08 pm  

Staffs FC wrote:

Thought Longy was off to Salford. When is Fien signing by the way ?

Things change quickly in RL