http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20751029-23214,00.html
Long departure shakes Britain
By Dean Ritchie
November 14, 2006
GREAT Britain's Tri-Nations campaign is in disarray after key playmaker Sean Long mysteriously flew home last night.
Long left Sydney for St Helens last night, leaving Great Britain without its No.1 halfback for Saturday night's vital Test match against Australia in Brisbane.
Great Britain management claimed last night that Long had been sent home for "personal reasons".
Lions manager Abi Ekoku insisted Long had not breached any disciplinary codes.
As news of Long's Tri-Nations demise emerged, there were rumours that he had been hauled before Great Britain management for breaking a tour rule.
"That suggestion is completely false," Ekoku said.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Long and Lions coach Brian Noble had experienced a strained relationship during the six-week Tri-Nations tour.
Losing Long before the Kangaroos Test match at Suncorp Stadium is a crushing blow for Great Britain.
Long was the Lions' best in his country's shock 23-12 win over Australia 10 days ago.
The Daily Telegraph understands cracks have been appearing in the Lions camp with players privately questioning Noble's selections and Long unhappy with the team's playing style.
Sources deep inside the Great Britain camp claim Noble's coaching style is based primarily on defence. Long wanted to attack.
The pair do not dislike one another but they have major differences in philosophy and style.
There has also been concern that Long has been publicly offering himself to NRL clubs but, while doing that, played poorly against New Zealand last weekend.
This story will be denied by the Lions but The Daily Telegraph has had it confirmed by numerous sources.
Noble was coy when asked yesterday about Long, saying: "Our performance revolves around more than just Sean Long.
"One of the reasons Sean probably wasn't to the fore at the weekend was because of what other people didn't do."
Great Britain must beat Australia at Suncorp Stadium to qualify for the Tri-Nations final.
Noble remains confident of another upset.
"We think we can (beat Australia). We're pretty upbeat about our chances," Noble said.
"We know it's going to be a tough challenge. This is a team we've beat before, we've got plenty of confidence."
New Zealand belted Great Britain 34-4 last weekend, making the Kiwis - in the eyes of some - new Tri-Nations favourites.
"Well, they (the Kiwis) are not in this game on the weekend," Noble said.
"We did some good things against Australia that we didn't back up and do against the Kiwis."
