Obviously recently Kyle has recieved a huge amount of criticism and I was just wondering whether it is justified or whether we may be being a bit harsh. The claims that he hasnt been trying over the last few weeks may not be truthful as we haveall said he is a fatastic prospect but isnt yet at the level he is capable of becoming and not yet made the 7 his own. So when he isnt hving a first class game is it due to lack of effort of lack of ability at the curent time??

However he is only 22 and still a young lad. He's still learning and some critcism may be harsh. Again when he said that 'Yawnion is a bigger game' dont believe he was being arrogant or stuck up towards the saints team and fans. In terms of TV coveage and revenue, fan base and international stages he is right. However i think it was a silly comment to make.

So does he really deserve the abuse or are we being a wee bit harsh???

Yes
At best he's really dumb and listening to bad advice

Of course it has been harsh. Eastmond has no doubt been advised to do what he has done and has been displaying the naivity of youth, nothing more. For me his performances have been no worse than any other player at the club bar Jammer and Roby, which says a lot.

Paul Wellens has been absolutely horrendous this year, he isn't being booed by anyone other than me currently.

PHEW!

I thought i was in for a sledging when putting this topic.Glad im not the only one who feels this way thoughh !

Very harsh theres been more players whos just been as bad like Meli and Moore its frustration with many due to the start weve had

Paul Wellens has been playing even though he is still carrying the rib injury and apparently has had injections for the pain. He has not been horrendous by any means - just not quite up to the mark on occasions and has been playing through the pain barrier. Once his injury has healed he will be fine. We have been so down on players in key positions we have needed to keep him out on the field. In an ideal world he would not have played but needs must.

This should be a poll... Saint or Sinner.

Do we need another Kyle thread, really?

Surely one more won't hurt?

The criticism of him is not harsh, no. He may be 'just a 22 year old' but he is also a home-owning, salary earning 22 year old who, for a second year running, decided to undertake his contract negotiations via the media. He was either too stupid or too arrogant not to learn from his first attempt at doing that, which drew criticism at the time. Having triggered all the media hype up he then extends it by talking to the media after he has announced his decision while opting not to engage while on the pitch. Taking on the line, tactical kicking, tackling, chasing ... these are all things he can do, and do well. He doesn't need years more experience for those things as he was doing them very well last season.

No, the criticism was not harsh. The booing and language some people used at the match on Friday wasn't nice though. But the criticism was justified.

Issues like these often make me think about the fundamentally WEIRD and paradoxical nature of fandom. With my rational head on I'd argue the kid has every right to put himself first and earn as much money as he can. It goes without saying that Rugby - whether it be League or Union - is a young man's game. Kyle has - perhaps - a ten year window to develop his career and strengthen his financial position before the curtain closes and he is dumped into the "real world" where (depending on whether he chooses to take a part-time programme in some field or another during his playing days or moves into coaching) he'll be at a significant disadvantage because he has no experience of any kind except rugby. It's a fear that must terrorise all league pros in the dead of night and function as a powerful motivator to look after one's interests.

It would be ignorant (and inhuman) to think that League players - even the better paid ones - are pampered pre-madonnas, totally immune to the phobias that dog regular people and so I thank the kid for what he's given Saints up to this point and wish him all the best in the future (which will hopefully include numerous humiliations of big name Union opponents).

Meanwhile, my Freudian [iId[/i is bouncing off the inner walls of my skull in a state of foaming apoplexy. It argues that in the context of the world and our place within it "Sport" makes no sense whatsoever. This is because it is a fictional paradigm that we construct in order to ESCAPE FROM reason and consequently Kyle - like all great fictional villains on paper and in films - deserves every ounce of vitriol that's been doused upon him and more besides. By attempting to put myself somehow above the petty rivalries and tribalism in order to find some kind of moral or ethical truth - some right WAY - I'm forgetting that the only sense that can be made out of sport is that it doesn't make sense. And that's the point.

Where I stand between these two warring factions I don't know. Both hold a certain appeal but neither offer sufficient explanation taken in itself whenever situations like these crop up.

I genuinley believe that Bath must now realise that they have made a mistake by signing Eastmond, not because of his ability, but because of his attitude. the attitude he's now showing at Saints he can show at Bath just as easily if things don't go his way.

With Kyle it is that "chip" on his shoulder and believing far too much the well oiled publicity machine behind him! still doubt he has a real heart! hope I am wrong but not sure he will fit into Union!

I love the game of RL and as such want to see the best players whoever they play for. I am disappointed at Eastmond's decision and his reaction to the fans of the club that have helped him through his career. If the contract negotiations were carried out through the press how much was this down to his agent? and the dragging out of the decision would do nothing to endear him to either St Helens or Bath, again how much was this down to his agent? His agent/advisors should be giving him sound advice that protects against ending up in the position we have now reached.
However sad, all parties are now better off terminating his contract and moving on, although, I sense that this is what Kyle has wanted from the onset of the saga.