10 games in 2007 is what I was thinking of. Thought he'd missed a few more than four last year, to be honest. And you can hardly include 2009 as it isn't over yet.



If we were without a halfback for 10 games of a season, it could have a very detrimental affect on our performance - as we have seen being without one for the past two seasons. He's a good player, but I just have my doubts that he'll be able to cut it physically by the second year of his contract.

Some of our players are worse than that....and they are all younger

Quite. But halfback is the pivotal position - more so than any other in the team.



I look at it like this:



He's been at Saints for many years and has been a bloody good player for them. They have built their team around him. If they thought he had another two years in him - and bear in mind they know a lot more about the sort of shape his body is in - then they would have given him a two year deal.

i'm in two minds about this signing. on the one hand he's a great player and it's someone like him that hull need, but will he be another sicknote. at least it looks like thorman will be getting the boot.

True....may turn out to be their loss and our big gain......end of the day its a results buissnes ans if he gets the results...jobs a good un

Newton smashed his face in just before the play-offs so he didn't miss many.

which can only be a good thing

Oh, too right. If he's on the pitch, he'll be better than any scrum half we've had for many years. He's a very, very good player. I just can't help but think if he was worth a 2 year deal at this stage of his career, he'd have got one from the club he's built his reputation at and helped to win numerous trophies along the way.



I genuinely hope that at the end of 2011 someone drags this thread up and points out how wrong I was.

Best post i've read, well done and thank you.



This Hull FC fan has been craving that personality since Chico Jackson finished.



I have a feeling Long will be something special, and could end up coaching here. I have said for a while we need a born winner and have spoke about Hanley and Farrell and Cunningham. Long fits in alongside them, he wont chuck in a towel when 3 tries down and half hour left.

Think its a decent signing if we put another quality running half back with him. Playing Horney or even worse Thorman (God please no!!) then its not the signing we need. We need a half back we can sart to build a team around not a stop gap year after year. Saints, Leeds and Bradford all have their years of success built around a steady backs combination.



I truly hope Long and Fitzgibbon arent our 'Marque' signings for next year. If so I dread for season ticket sales!!

errrrrm sean long great number 7 not the best in SL but he aint the worst but will he perform for hull fc...we shall see

To be fair, I'm not sure what part of buying a house in Hull is incompatible with what TKOAH was saying. He might keep his existing property and live there three days a week.