Was he ever capped by England RL?

he is signing for london as reported in the times today

But would you take that job if it halved your salary and impacted the lifestyle you'd become accustomed to (don't think £200k-£120k, think more like £40k-£20k or £30k-£15k)? I know my missus for one would be concerned.

£120k is a lot of money. £15k isn't. So not the same.

I think it is the same.

If your outgoings (mortgage, lifestyle, loans, etc) are locked into one set of figures then to expect a change to half of that (thereabouts) is a major change. I could live on £120k like a Lord but that's not the point. I couldn't live on half my money now without it affecting my whole family. Therefore I'd be tempted to take a job that maintains my (and my family's) lifestyle rather than accepting half the money just for the "love" of it.

That wasn't what he said though. He was comparing dropping from £200k to £120k, which is a salary you can still live on comfortably.

You were comparing dropping from £30k to £15k which is a salary you would struggle to live on, let alone any comfort.

And by the way, for £120k you really couldn't live like a lord.

Up to you. I've turned down a few more lucrative jobs in the past because the one I am (or was, depending) in comfortably pays my bills with some extra to play with and save for my family. I'd rather earn less and be happy than go to work every day and be p***ed off and miserable for more money. There is, as the old cliche goes, more to life.

Also, most places he would live playing RL will be cheaper to live in than Bath, so the real terms drop wouldn't be so huge.

Plus we're all blindly speculating about the two salaries anyway.

Another pointless post trawling the past of a different sport. Did you watch the Rugby Union game on Saturday? He was cack. Can't pass (in fact he didn't pass the whole game), lost in defence and desperately slow. And before you say he didn't get any ball (you did watch the match didn't you - it would sort of be required to comment on what I posted) England enjoyed nearly 60% posession and he dropped his first two passes - both of which he overran.

And where do you get off assuming that I boo Sam Tomkins? Have you ever met me or stood at a rugby game with me? I don't think so.

The posters on here are not a true representation of the Leeds fans or indeed the wider paying public I would suggest. Our game currently has a shortage of real classy attacking players IMO and Eastmond has that class and the ability to create things out of nothing. Great attacking players have always attracted higher gates as they bring out the less tribal rugby lovers who are will pick and choose their games to watch.

As I have said it is most unlikely that this is more than a storm in a teacup and he will go on to play for England RU in the 6 Nations in the New year but if he were to return whichever club signs him will benefit from increase gate money and better results.

He is not in SBW's class, but then who else is? That should not blind us to the fact that Eastmond has rare attacking ability and would light up a game that has become dulled by dominating defences.

I must have been watching a different super league to you.

I wasn't referring to the score lines. I was meaning that coaches concentrate on defence above attack. They select players who appear to spend more time in the gym than on perfecting the subtler skills. This produces good tacklers with great stamina but is not the best for producing the side step or body swerve or retaining their natural speed. The result is backs who are really 2nd rowers and rely on physical strength rather than traditional silky skills.

With so many games decided by momentum, often coming from a run of 50/50 decisions which gift possession to one side the best way to turn the tide is by an exciting player's individual attacking skills.

There are not too many backs currently in SL with the natural skills of say Watkins but I fear that in bulking him up to be able to withstand a high tackle count there is the risk of dulling some of his pace and footwork ability.

Look its only an opinion but you have to agree there is currently a shortage of backs in SL that can transform a game. Burrow is an example of rare rugby talent where speed and footwork used in an unorthodox way has been so successfull, yet he is criticised by fans of his own team because he doesn't conform, so some would have him relegated him to the bench at best.

I agree there's a shortage of skill across the boards with a focus on athleticism rather than skill but that certainly doesn't manifest itself in better defence, quite the opposite, I would like defences in Super League to be far more intense than they are.

but its relative and a short career so it is not quite like you say...

but also that £120k per year is x how ever many years contract it is, rather than the relative insecure position most people work in.

In terms of pure ability, Eastmond has a lot to offer - although I'd say there are 3/4 better NRL players in any position he can play, and Sam Tomkins at his best is a far better player than anything I've seen from him.

Also, have a look at Eastmond's last few 'performances' for Sts. No sign of any running game there - just a player going through the motions and not wanting to be tackled. That part of his attitude stank - whether he was going to leave for RU or not.

The injuries would be a major concern. He's effectively lost a couple of years out of his career already. Its a shame he isn't still in RL, because Bill Eve isn't able to roll out the biscuit bones comedy classic every time his name is mentioned.

BTW I dispute entirely this idea of star players bringing in mega crowds. Even if Leeds signed SBW, they'd undoubtedly get a couple of extra thousand for his first game, but over a season? I think not much of a boost. Otherwise there'd be no need for a salary cap because 'star' players would pay for themselves through the gates.