That's purely opinion. I worry about any player when the phrase "on his day" is thrown in, as it usually means they're unreliable. Examples would be Pryce and Briers, who are as good as any halfbacks in SL [ion their day[/i.

In the NRL there are only a hand full of 'non tackling machine' backrowers with the talents Eastwood possess

Greg Bird
Anthony Whatmough
Sam Thaiday
Bronson Harrison
Adam Blair


Can't see any of them coming any time soon - he will be a very tough act to follow, seldom do we get world class overseas players in their prime.

I wouldn't swap TP for Eastwood, but then I haven't seen as much of Eastwood as you lot.

He's only young though and if he can avoid injury and gain a bit of consistency, he's be amongst the very best back rowers in the world.

This calls for some stats



Apperances TP : 24 GE: 15
Tackle Busts TP: 45 GE: 38

Offloads TP: 29 GE: 27

Clean Breaks : TP: 3 GE: 7

With Eastwood making 9 less apperances he has made more clean breaks than TP. Just 2 less Offloads and just 7 less tackle busts. In these departments GE is superior.

However:

Errors : TP 13 GE 15

Missed Tackles : TP 21 GE 30

Penalties TP: 12 GE: 2

Unfortunately due to the injuries to our pack for most of the year we haven't been able to use TP as a wide back rower all that much, he's been propping mainly which has had an impact on his impact, so to speak.

I guess the reason I prefer TP is that I've seen Eastwood have a few poor and anonymous games, but TP has been consistently good for us. Like I said though, I haven't seen anywhere near as much of Eastwood as you lot, obviously.

Get Eastwood fit for long periods and I've no doubt he'd be the better player though.

Ditto! I think Eastwood has played well for Leeds recently, looked really good in the Wigan game. My only worry is his tackling technique. What ever he touches usually goes to ground, but when it doesn't, or someone isn't there to wrap up after him, his effort has gone in vein. Saying that, I still think we'll struggle to replace what he brings to the team.

For what ive seen of TP the prop, metre maker role, suits him. He looks too big and heavy to be a wide back rower. Having said that so does Ali but he does a fine job. Either way Leeds need to use Eastwoods cap space top bring in a metre maker. Someone who can do the hard yards, bacause apart from JP and Kylie (the latter with limited game time) we havn't got anybody else.

I'd take Puletua at Leeds as Eastwood's replacement in a heartbeat. Quality player who, as FTV says, has been used in a role at Saints that really doesn't suit him.

Indeed, but if he came to Leeds he would end up having to fulfil exactly the same role.

Hopefully next year with Perry/Graham/LMS/Clough taking the reins at prop, we'll see a bit more of what he can do in the back row.

Strange to admit it, when we're 80 minutes from Old Trafford, but I can't wait for next season - a pack/bench comprising some of Perry/Graham/LMS/Clough/Wilkin/Soliola/Flannery/Puletua/Roby/Moore looks very handy.

Are there any rumours about who might be coming in for Eastwood? I would think that increased salary cap in Oz and exchange rate will make it tough to attract tip top quality?

It's a similar situation to Eastwood at Leeds in that case and either way it's the role they both play best, IMO.

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Innes must have carried on playing first grade for Leeds (albeit briefly) after he left in that case.

A bit like Peacock when he joined Leeds?