i would try to get ellis here this season,and see how he goes.whenever he does come i would make him first choice 7 from the off,he will be 22 by the time he gets here,if hes good enough he ll make it.no disrespect to long or dykes,we have had to many injury prone players in the last few years,lets go for youth.manly sea eagles have promoted to young halfs in foran and cherry evans to the first team and they are now blossoming into a really good ,young partnership,which may form the cornerstone of the manly team for the next ten years.

I suspect that was the plan all along and I dont think Long would have got a contract extension anyway. I think that clears up the signing of Ellis and Heremaia. Ellis as backup and pushing for one of the half back jersies with Heremaia pretty much taking up the role Obst currently has - swapping with Houghton and covering an injury in the halfs. Not sure that makes us stronger but now easier to understand. If nothing else just perhaps shows whats available out there.

Ellis will be.

Even more desperate than putting obst there

Why? We need a kicking game and an organising half, Ellis is far better at both than Obst.

Because as much as obst isn't a scrum half, he has more SL experience in the last couple of weeks than 22 year old ellis has in his life. No way will agar throw him in in front of obst. He'll only play if we have injuries. If agar saw obst as interchange hooker he wouldn't have signed heremaia

I don't think Obst will be here next year.

Basing on no other reason than the current injury and not having chance to prove himself for a new contract I dont see Long playing for us again. Based on that and say Obst leaving that would make Heremaia a straight swap for him (Obst). I just dont see us risking Ellis as a starting half unproven in SL. Therefore if Obst was leaving I could only see us in the market still for a proven half back. What makes you think Obst would be leaving though?

Because I think Heremaia is a replacement.
They've signed Ellis and are probably going to keep Long, so I don't see a place for Obst.
Don't be surprised if he's back at Wakey next year. I have a feeling there'll be a 15 team SL next year.

Obst won't be going anywhere.

If we can get Ellis ready to be a starting SL Scrum Half in a single off season it'll be a miracle. He's got a ton of work to do on the physical fitness side alone.

Dunno, one of the things that was highlighted about him was how fit and ready he was to go straight in!! he is a biggish lad and extremely fit too already ....