: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:56 am  

This will be a good signing for you lot IF you have a young up and coming 7 to learn off him and you can keep him fit.

He's certainly better than what you have but he needs runners and protection to be even moderately successful, remember he's in a dominant side at the mo'.

I'd personally be surprised if you get him to play more than 27 games over the next 2 seasons. and yet you'll all be surprised when he's injured more than fit.

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:56 am  

Rupert Pupkin said last week as to why we should sign him "Because he is a proven himself in SL, possibly as the best SH to play in SL. Orford has proved nothing over here." Must be good then!!!

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:57 am  

For me, this is a good signing. He's a very experienced player, and should bring some stability to the team. He has a great kicking game, which is something that we are currently lacking in, severely.
He may be old, but Saints, a top-team, still wanted to keep him for next season, and he's proved on more than one occasion that he's still up for it.
Hopefully, he'll be able to 'general our forces' on the field too, as right now we have no one doing this, and all of our moves are telegraphed to the other team, and if not we just run like headless chickens.

The main downside to this signing is his age. This isn't a signing that we can build the future around, and in a couple of years we'll be back in the same position, so I would have preferred a younger scrum-half, who we could have built our team around for the next few seasons, but, really, how many of these are there around at the moment?

This can't be our final signing for next season, that isn't good enough. We have Fitzgibbon to boost our pack, but I would say that we need to offload players like Cusack, Thorman and King, and bring in some younger players with better ability, and can improve, as apposed to the three I just mentioned, who won't change no-matter-what.

I would like to see a new fullback to come into the squad. I'm not Tony's biggest fan, and I would like to see Horne form a partnership with Long. However, if a stand-off/scrum-half of good quality became avaliable, such as Briers, Myler, Benji Marshall (Whom I would love to sign), or Orford, I would be happy with Horne moving to Fullback.
However, if that didn't happen I would view Fullback as the priority position to sign.

So, it's a good start, and kudos to the board for signing a scrum-half, just as the fans wanted, but I'd like to see this backed up with signings in other areas, and maybe a Head Coach who knows what he's doing and can actually coach a side to their potential.

It's also good because it doesn't take up a quota space, but it would be so much better if we had a young, up-and-coming scrum-half for him to
influence.

Overall, I'm quite happy.

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:57 am  

I should also make the point that whilst Saints did offer Long a one-year contract, his position as starting scrum half was not secure. Saints are committed to bringing Kyle Eastmond through and it's doubtful (especially after the mid-season point) that Long would have played more than 50% of games as starting scrum half.

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:58 am  

1865 wrote:

Try not to de-rail the thread please.

Oh lighten up

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:58 am  

Bloody hell, we've signed a scrum half! Hallelujah!

Definitely a very good signing IMO. Hopefully gives us 2 years of organisation and some genuine brains on the pitch, in which time we should also be able to line up another.

Now fingers crossed for Lynch, and a fullback or stand-off from the NRL (anyone reckon a Long and Finch combination would be nice?).

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:58 am  

Wollagong Way wrote:

Mixed feelings on this one....he is deffo what we need and have been missing that goes without saying, but his age is against him and he isn't ripping up trees this year or last (in my opion), although i admit i'm not an avid follower of Saints.

As a side issue.....both new signings have stated "after talking to Agar i was excited at what his plans are" or words to that effect would suggest we have got him (Agar) for next season......i'm really worried about our style of play under him.

He's just told them both who else we are signing!!

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:58 am  

KNOCK OFF NIGEL wrote:

I think we have employed a new tactic of signing everyones goalkickers.

Trust me, you won't use him for goalkicking! I think he's only been doing ours this season to reach his 1000th, but his in play kicking has been better this year and if you need someone to drop a goal in the last minute against Warrington you've got him.

We'll miss him at Saints even if it would've just been for a year, but we've some cracking youngsters coming through who are seen as his replacement, its just a shame we couldn't have kept him around to help bring them through as it seems he will do at your place.

Good signing for you imo, but your pack will need to protect him well.

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:59 am  

hullian wrote:

Saints wouldn't have offered him another year if they didn't think he could do it, so for one year at least its an excellent signing.

Saints only offered him a 1 year deal cos they are going to make a bid for Thurston for the 2011 season

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:00 pm  

Kosh wrote:

Saints wanted him for next year. So did several other clubs. He may be past his best, but he will finally bring a whole bunch of things that we've desperately needed for years.

Plus we know that he can do the business in SL, which hasn't always been the case for high profile NRL signings.

He's also English, saving us a quota spot and any potential visa issues. And cap space over some of the other names touted around in all likelihood. That gives us more options to strengthen elsewhere.

Looking at the whole package, this is a good signing.

I just can't help feeling undewhelmed about this signing !!! It seems to me that we have only gone halfway to solving our halfback problem.

I will however reserve judgement until we have finished our recruitment for next season. As long as we make two or three quality signings (and no other SL club ends up with Orford or Thurston), I suppose this signing could be okay but I really hope that we have a couple of marquee signings in the pipeline.

I take it that this isn't the "best signing since Peter Sterling" signing that has been talked about ??