And the strength of that 1962 side meant that likes of Vinty, Stopford, Southward, Davies Carlton etc didn't get in.

in 1962, Sean Long would have been playing prop rather than scrum half.

It's almost impossible to compare players of different eras in terms of 'who was the better player?'

Who would win in a race between Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt? Stats say Bolt would obliterate Lewis but if the American had all the advantages in technology and training Bolt has had it may be a lot closer.

Both Long and Murphy will be remembered as great players. There's no point arguing over who was best.

Why, were the prop forwards faster in those days?

murphy proved it at international level,end of

In a different era, with different players, against different teams, under different conditions etc....

You're right, end of

sean was great for us, but i loved watching bobby goulding. Great rugby brain.

The Long's and the Goulding's will come and go, I might never be around to hear it said they where great, but Murphy's name comes to the fore everytime this sort of comparison is done, year on year.
By far one of the greatest players of his generation A.J.Murphy ....(the People's friend )

Who cares? this is about Saints best scrum half.

Senior says " Leeds are the best team ever in the SL era"

Gilly says " Sean Long is saints best ever scrum half"

Both just saying what they think, ok they are wrong, but hey ho.

Long WAS a far better player than most people give credit. In his prime his speed off the mark was right up there with the best of them. During early years he relied solely on footspeed, but as the seasons went by he developed an organising and passing game that were more than useful.

Prime Long was in the two or three years before his legs started to go when defences didn't know whether he was going to run or pass and his short kicking game was at its very best. The Long of today is a shadow of that player and you don't need to be Wayne Bennett to figure out a way of neutralising him.

If Gilly was drawing comparisons between Long [iat his best[/i and Murphy then I think he's got an argument. It's an argument he'll lose every time, but it's an argument.

i work at mc donalds in southport and i serverd murphy the other day it was ace i just turn into a 8 year old fan, its sad really "can you sign this for me please Mr. Murphy" and then sat down and chated for 20 min


really nice man, didnt bite my ear off or anything