After inspiring his new side to a 32-12 victory against former club St Helens, Hull FC captain Sean Long revealed how his nerves almost got the better of him in the build up to his Hull debut.

“I was quite nervous before the game, I had to hold it all in. I didn’t really want to let the lads know that I was as nervous as I was because I’ve not been that nervous in a while. ”

Long scored a try on his return to Knowsley Road, as well as providing try assists for Willie Manu and Kirk Yeaman on his way to picking up the Sky Man of the Match award, and the scrum-half was full of praise for the high level of performance throughout the team.

“It was a tough game, the first twenty minutes they threw everything at us, kitchen sink and the lot. Full credit to us, we held them out and it hurt them a little bit,” said Long.

“Saints aren’t used to that, throwing everything at them, they usually come up with at least a try but full credit to our defence.”

When the fixtures were announced for the 2010 Super League season, the match-up between Long’s former and new club at the ground he called home for 12 years caught everyone’s attention, and in scoring one of Hull’s five tries, Long’s
return was a perfect one.

“I didn’t celebrate the try because I was shattered!,” he mused.

“It was a good team performance and obviously there was a lot of pressure on me coming back to Saints, I was going to be the talk, but what a team performance it was from the boys, the defence was solid and we hit them on the counter and hurt them.”

And despite playing in front of his former fans, it was the noise created by the travelling Hull fans, recognised this season by the club retiring the number 18 shirt for the Old Faithful, that excited Long most of all.

Amongst the amusing renditions of ‘We don’t know what’s going on’ as thick fog descended on Lancashire, it was a special tribute to Longy that resounded most of all, with the Hull supporters chanted ‘Walking in a Longy Wonderland’ throughout the game.

The chant clearly brought a smile to the face of Hull’s enigmatic captain who revealed after the match that it already become a favourite of his!

“I prefer the Hull chant to the Saint’s chant to be honest, it just sounds better!” he said.

If you want to join what could be a bumper crowd for Longy and the teams next home game and join in some of the chanting, get your ticket right now.

Following the superb performance against St.Helens, remaining tickets for the clash are expected to sell fast, with the East Stand already looking like it could be set for a sell out.

To buy your ticket, head down to the KC Stadium ticket office between 9am and 5pm between now and Friday or call the ticket hotline on 01482 505 600.