It probably gets a bit repetitive to report it all the time, but big man Mose Masoe is the latest player to wax lyrical about the input of Saints’ assistant coach Sean Long.

Masoe spoke about Long’s work with the team – and it is clear that the former scrum half is not simply being pigeon holed to coach his areas of playing expertise in the halves and kicking.

I saw Long up the Cowley Training ground earlier this week and the three time Lance Todd Trophy winner looked in his absolute element – doing what he does best in using his astute rugby brain to impart knowledge and knowhow to others.

And although plenty of Friday night’s expansive rugby was down to the vision and passing precision of Travis Burns, some of Saints’ sparkling attack and the return of elements of play what you see, off-the-cuff running football had Long’s fingerprints all over them.

When Keiron Cunningham initially announced Long’s return, he felt the need to stress countless times that he was not bringing him home for company, or because he was a mate of his or that it was some old pals act to help a former great player.

It is a shame that Cunningham had to be so defensive about this appointment – but he was probably reacting to the odd comments that do the rounds when another former legend joins the staff.

Last year and even more so the year before, when Saints were riven with injury and a few big games were lost, the chatter from some of those looking for an easy answer was that there were too many ‘old boys’.

Bizarrely some of those caught in the crossfire of that were people doing admirable non-playing, off the field roles like Kel Coslett, Paul Sculthorpe and Tommy Martyn.

I don’t doubt the same arguments will come again if and when Saints lose a couple of matches this term.

Nobody is appointed up there at Langtree Park out of sentiment – but I would say that a proven track record at the club, a love and passion for the Saints and an affinity with the outlook of the townsfolk are plus points not negatives.

Are you telling me that Wiganers don't look with envy at Shaun Edwards and Andy Farrell coaching Wales and England rugby union?

They would give their eye-tooth to have that pair back involved at the DW Stadium to bring qualities to the table – not show their medal collection.

Does anybody think someone like Cunningham, who was always the shrewdest decision maker in the heat of the battle, would suddenly develop a foggy judgement when having to make big calls off the field?

We should be proud of the legends who understand the culture at the club and who are helping it move forward – on and off the pitch.

To me having a back-to-back Man of Steel in upstairs role, a Lance Todd and two-times cup final winning skipper in the corridors on game day, a World Club Challenge try scorer assisting with strength and conditioning and now a three time Lance Todd winner on the training paddock is something we should celebrate not grumble about.