They are the legendary partnership bidding to finally guide Featherstone into the Betfred Super League, and head coach Sean Long believes he knows just how to get there.
The former Great Britain and St Helens scrum-half was the headline-making appointment to succeed Brian McDermott, Super League’s most decorated coach, after Rovers’ ambitious 2022 promotion bid ended in failure.
A shock defeat to Batley in the playoff semi-finals prompted McDermott’s subsequent departure which was swift, if without many tears from Featherstone’s loyal fan base who struggled to warm to the former Leeds Rhinos boss, despite his unrivalled success at Headingley.
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Step forward Long, one of the games greatest ever number sevens, to try and find the final piece to the Post Office Road jigsaw.
It is the first big head coaching role for the iconic scrum half, who left his job as Leeds assistant to spearhead the famous mining town’s latest charge for the promised land.
Alongside Long will be his old sidekick Leon Pryce, another league icon, a partnership that brought Saints a devastating treble win in 2006. Pryce hasn’t coached since a stint at Workington four years ago, but Long says the pair have picked up as coaches where they left off as team-mates for club and country.
“We gelled straight away because as players we were as tight as anything,” Long tells The Sportsman.
“We are on the same page. We think the same stuff. He has some good ideas, and we can have a laugh as well. I focus a lot on defence and Leon looks after the attack - it’s great to have him alongside me.
“He was outstanding as a player and has been outstanding so far as a coach. He is learning all the time and asking questions which is good.”
As players the pair were known for their stylish off-the-cuff attacking flair that would rip the best of defences to shreds. Indeed Pryce regards Long as the best number 7 to ever play in Super League.
As coaches? Who knows.
Fans though, are already expecting edge-of-the-seat entertainment.
Long hopes he can deliver that, but as he targets winning every game this season he doesn’t really care how they do it.
“It doesn’t matter how we play or how exciting people expect us to be,” says the 46-year old, with the energy of a man relishing his big chance to shine.
“So long as we are winning games. Yes we do want to play a good brand of rugby. But we just have to win. This year is about hard work and graft.
“We want to play a good brand of rugby because that’s what the fans want to see. But I’m sure they want us to win as well.”
Critics, of whom Featherstone seem to have gathered plenty as they bid for the big time, will point to style over substance, appointing big-name players with minimal coaching pedigree and hoping that will get bums on seats to roar an already competitive squad the extra step towards Super League.
But spend any time at all around Featherstone when Long and Pryce are around, and you’ll sense an infectious bounce of positivity.
A recent “meet the coach” event at the stadium sold out the clubhouse, with fans talking of a renewed connection with the manager and team that had diluted last season as Leigh romped the league. McDermott was forthright in his view that he was there to win rather than make friends. Ultimately he struggled to do either.
Long though, having already spent time working with Featherstone nine years ago, sees his own return as a reconnection.
The early signs of fight and togetherness in the team are there too. Rovers beat a youthful Castleford side 26-10 on New Year’s Eve in Long’s first game in charge.
It was a performance from which Long saw enough to suggest he is on the right track, highlighting one key ingredient that could clinch Featherstone the title.
“The effort has been outstanding,” says Long.
“We are working really hard for each other, I couldn’t ask for more. There is some skill-based stuff we can tidy up but there are encouraging signs.
“I like how they scrambled for each other and our defence we are working on a lot. We only conceded two tries against Cas and that is good.
“If we can do that throughout the season we will win the league.”
Rugby league is embarking on a pivotal transitional period that could define the future of the sport, with management company IMG moving back towards franchising clubs from 2024, and away from guaranteed promotion and relegation.
For teams like Featherstone, it makes 2023 - which will see the Betfred Championship winners prompted to Super League - absolutely crucial.
