Eastmond had a spell at fb today when wello went in the centre if I remember correctly. Could this be the way to go?



We do seem to lack some spark at the moment. Just hope the next big game can light the fire!

The truth is (and this isn't taking a pop) what most people were saying would happen last year but didn't, at least until the GF, has all too obviously happened this. Namely that the reliance on the older backbone, coupled with a thin squad is starting to bite. You're playing players week in, week out who are simply not up to the rigeurs of constant top flight RL anymore and it's starting to show in terms of injuries and poor form in certain players that is having a knock-on (sic) effect on the rest of the squad. Someone mentioned the WC as a reason, but this doesn't excuse the likes of Longy, who didn't go and neither does it explain the good form of the likes of Leuleui, Richards and Hock at Wigan for example, or players playing in the NRL who did! Bringing the youngsters in is really the only way to go, but whether that will improve things in the short term is difficult to say.

Long definitely needs a week off, he has been awful the last few weeks. Give Eastmond a go 7, where he is more involved in the game.

Do you mean rest longy or drop him coz of his dire form?

Both.

Imo he should be dropped!



How can he need a rest when he just had 3 weeks off with a injury?



Potter should drop him and it might give him a kick up the ass he needs.



His attitude has been terrible.

How can burn out be the problem, all players have had a break after the WC, Wigan had a few players there and had them in the final so played more games than the English team. Wigan have played more games in the regular season than Saints, seems a poor excuse for Saints being well beaten.

the tide is now starting to change,

Long has been bad, yes. But so has a hell of a lot of players, including Cunningham. His passing from dummy half the last few weeks has been shocking.

Didn't some guy by the name of Canute say that just before he nearly drowned.

Maybe you're missing Perellini more than you realise?

Surely a 7 year old couldnt throw it that far over the touchline.



Seriously though, you should be playing Eastmond instead of Long, Long is past it, I want to see Eastmond make it for Englands future hopes of winning the world cup. Him Tomkins and Myler future half-backs and its not looking too bad. You have some great young talent so I agree you should give some of them a rest.