The problem is Ainscough for his few faults is our best (only) strike weapon. Hes put himself in the position that he has to be picked in the bigger games however as Hogan said he has to be rested at some point so it seems logical to give him a rest against a side we should be beating comfortably.



Richards probably needed that game to get his match fitness back.

Spot on.

However, as you say he's not the finished article but is doing very well for himself. If he was 'dropped' for a big game against likes of Leeds, St Helens, it would do his confidence no good at all and would be on par with dropping him as the coach worry that he could be a 'weak link' etc and not good enough to be playing the big teams.



There's valid points on either side.

#



coaches dont rest young players they just keep there feet on the ground, great example eastmond at saints, he should be infront of long on merit alone but hes not

No he shouldn't. For a start he's hardly strung 5 games together without getting injured for a couple of years.



Eastmond's progression is being handled just fine. If he can shake off the knocks, he'll take over from Longy next year for sure.

This imo is what Noble thought as well.



Ainscough is our main attacking threat and has to play against the bigger teams but he’s also a young player who imo shouldn’t play all the games in his debut season.



Celtic were the perfect opponents to rest him against as he wouldn’t be as badly missed as say against Leeds.



I’m not a Noble fan but he’s done well with this one for me.

You not expecting Long to be at Saints next year?



His influence on the side doesn't seem as great as it once was.

what you tryna say, it makes no sense

Looks clear enough to me, try reading it again.

His contract is soon to be up, as is KC's.



If it were up to me I'd keep KC and let Long go - he's starting to pick up knocks and we now have kids capable of stepping up.



Sure, we might not be as slick for half a season or so, but we need to phase him and KC out rather than lose both at once later down the line.



For years people have been saying we'll be stuffed when x, y and z retire. We've done a good job replacing the irreplacable over recent years (Sullivan, Newlove, Iro, Gibbs, Albert, Martyn, Sculthorpe, Joynt, Perelini, Lyon, Anderson etc etc) and with the young lads knocking around KR these days, we'll be fine without Longy.



Unless he'll take a reduced contract a la KC/Scully last time, he'll be off IMO.

The money Long would free up could be invested in a utility player that could cover the halfs aswell as upgrading a few of the young players deals.



A sensible way to go in all honesty.

The article states [i"The 19-year-old winger, who has proved a sensation with 12 tries from his nine senior appearances, had to be content to be named as 18th man."[/i.



I thought WE were 18th man !!