Long arrived in Manchester on Tuesday morning

Long, whose partner is heavily pregnant, left the tour on Monday with a team statement saying the departure was due to "personal reasons".

The St Helens scrum-half was met in Manchester by a club official and only said: "I just want to get home."

GB coach Brian Noble insists there were no disciplinary problems with Long.

News conference: Great Britain coach Brian Noble

BBC rugby league reporter Dave Woods says there are allegations that Long had been drinking on the team's flight from New Zealand on Sunday.

But Noble denied that Long's exit had nothing to do with any indiscretions and said he asked to return home to be with his partner.

I'm looking forward to us getting back on the horse and riding it as hard as we can GB coach Brian Noble

"He's gone home for personal reasons," said Noble on Tuesday. "No discipline problems, no gambling problems, no football issues.

"It would be silly to say he hadn't had a drink but this group have been exemplary tourists and there have been no issues in respect of alcohol and no issues in respects of behaviour.

"What was a minor issue on the plane sometimes in these situations gets blown out of all proportions.

"No complaints from the airlines and no complaints from anybody."

606 COMMENT: Give your thoughts on Long's return home

Great Britain play Australia in Brisbane on Saturday in a game that the Lions must win to earn a place in the Tri-Nations final.

But Noble believes the loss of Long will not affect his side's preparations.

"I'm looking forward to us getting back on the horse and riding it as hard as we can," he said.

"I'm looking for the 17 most enthusiastic people to do that. They are in the mood to do well on the weekend."