Last Son of Wigan wrote:Does he even want to come to the UK? Never ever stated that he did. .
Has Long ever stated he wants to play for Wigan again? Has he said on many occasions he wants to finish his career at Saints? Yes. The truth is both would only sign for Wigan for financial reasons.
This have never ever been said, its come from you to back up your own point. .[/quote]You bang on about Orfords stats but what about Longs.[/quote]
Not sure i do bang on about Orfords stats simply highlighted that yourself and Boris claim his for has been patchy for the last couple of years, when infact he is the current Dally M and lead his side to the NRL title, so hardly the form of a patchy player in my opinion?
The initial point was that Long was my choice, regardless of the awards Orford have received. Tim Smith has won a top award in Aus and look at how successful he's not been over here. Awards doesn't guarantee a great signing. .[/quote]20 rep caps
won 3 Lance Todd trophies
Scored over 2000 career points .[/quote]
Very impressive but clearly he is not the same player, he can still lead his team round the park, but is nowhere near the player he was when he won these accolades. I do not dispute he has been a wonderful player and had a great career simply put those days are long behind him given his form. Should we resign Andy Farrell or sign Paul Sculthorpe? They have impressive stats from yesteryear, it does not make them the same player now or in 2010.
Looking at the age of Orford do you think he also will be at the top of his game? We are discussing two halves both in their 30's they are clearly not long term signings. If either or sign the idea is not to sign a player in his peak but someone with experience to help others and develop what we currently have, so your point is void as both are over 30..[/quote]Played all his games in SL. Experienced and local.
Won't feel the need to go back home, cos he's local unlike a potential Orford..[/quote]
Fair point, but really we can only speculate on how Orford will react to living in Wigan more seem to enjoy it than not.
Just as you can't speculate Orfords success in the NRL will translate to the SL.[/quote]When have I ever said I'm hellbent on Long when I also said sign Myler as the long term future 7 of our club?.[/quote]
The stance you are taking ducking the facts and firing weak counterarguments suggests you are hellbent on signing Long
What a crock. I've counted each one of your points and stated how I would like Myler long term, this clearly states how I'm not hellbent on Long and how you thinking that is in your head..[/quote]How many times have you seen Orford play this season? Do you know where Manly are in the Aussie league?[/quote]
Once again look back over the Setanta listings count them up and you will have a figure.[/quote]
So basically hardly any. Your are banging on about a player you have hardly ever seen. Are you sure you're not arguing for the sake of it? I mean, you are arguing your point for a player you have hardly ever watched. Lets just hope Wigan pay more attention to potential signings than you do. [/quote]
Finally you have stopped moaning and continued the debate top notch.
Not sure of the first point you make in bold. Are you claiming Long has never said he wants to finish his career at Saints?
Tim Smith won a rookie of the year award and was not signed directly from the NRL he was signed from obscurity without playing a game or training in a pro environment, as he has found his feet in the pro ranks he has shown some good form. Orford has not had the same background as Smith he would be moving from pro to pro environment without all the added bagage so i think its a poor comparisson.
Both are over 30 but Orford is still younger he has just short of 2 years on Long which in real terms at there age is a significant difference, maybe not 5 years ago but certainly at this stage of there career. Given Orford had the best season of his life last year it shows the ability is still there, i do not think you can say the same about Long. If we offered Orford a 2 year deal he would only just be older than Long is now when it finishes.
Until this post you clearly have ducked the debate.
Both players are a short term 2 year fix clearly Myler is a long term option but you cannot blood them together without having a senior partner to step in when required hence why we are having this debate on the merrits of Long/Orford.
The other word of warning that would put me right off Long is this, remember the effect Millward a man dripping in honours won at Saints faired at Wigan, he failed. He failed because of the history between the 2 clubs and the part he played in it. He never ever had the dressing room, something we could not risk our 7 and leader around the pitch not to have. Attempting to have a character like Long who has for so long been an integral part of Saints and a pain in the players side in my opinion as happened with Millward, i do not think he could ever win the dressing room.
Once again you claim i have hardly ever seen him which is plain wrong.