Doesn't matter, Saints don't play that way. We play direct through the middle with as little width as possible.

Half backs are for pu$$ies.

Can Eastmond leap tall buildings in a single bound? Can he bend bullets by thought alone? Can he crack mountains in two with his mighty schlong?

No?

He'll never make it.

Both are very exciting and different players. I still believe Sam has a more all round game to his than Kyle, both compliment eachother superbly when playing together but you only have to look back at some of Sam's assists to realise he's a completely different style of half back to Eastmond, watch out for Sam's pass to Pat yesterday for his 2nd try. It took some scoring but the pass was superb and has developed his attacking kicks this year as well. As it has been said, Kyle's playing out of his skin but there aren't many other Saints players challenging him on a consistent basis. Whereas at Wigan we've had Roberts, Joel Tomkins, Pat Richards and Locky all playing consistent rugby week in week out which makes it harder for Sam to have the lime light unlike last year.

Unless Tomkins bent the ball around a corner I doubt it's anything Eastmond hasn't already achieved. As far as kicking goes, I don't see any difference.

It's the same with just about every Wiganer that frequents this site. [i"Eastmond ... blah blah blah ... good player ... blah blah ... more athletic ... blah blah ... BUT Tomkins is better ... "[/i

The truth is - and I know this is difficult to hear - right now, the pair are just about equal in their abilities (it's worth remembering that Eastmond is the younger of the two by nearly a year). Eastmond is faster off the mark and more explosive. Tomkins appears to be the better organiser (although it's not easy to quantify this attribute).

Eastmond didn't play anywhere near as many games as Tomkins last season. Kyle was still fill-in for Longy and only played when Longy was injured and then on about three occasions at centre when Wheeler was injured. So it really isn't surprising that Tomkins won, is it, given the number of times he played as opposed to the number of times Eastmond played?

I don't know when players stop being Young Players but things may be different this season if Kyle continues to develop as he is doing presently. The two play different positions and they are different players but to my mind they are equally as good at present. The difference between them is that Kyle has more flash.

You could just as easily say that it's a lot easier to look good as a half back when the players around you are performing well. FWIW I don't think there's much between them - it's just nice to be talking about a genuinely exciting GB/England halfback partnership in the making.

Correct, looking at the stats there isn't. Kyle is probably more of a running back though with Sam being a bit more organised. As I said both completely different style of players who are a joy to watch for either team when on top form.

Having watched the Super League Show tonight, finally, I personally thought it wasn't as good as you make out. There was some terrible defence, all he really had to do was run and step.

Compared to the effort Quins had to go to to score against you, having seemingly far superior defence, I just didn't think it was anything to really talk about.

Not to take anything away from Kyle, but compared to other tries he's scored in his (so far short) career, I think that try against Quins is a poor example to pick if you were going to present "Kyle Eastmond's best try".

To be more specific, when we sat down to watch it, I mentioned this thread to the missus, saying "Eastmond's try is supposed to be superb". We both thought he must score again or something... But he doesn't.

Because you are so anti St Helens. Bryn Hargreaves could run 100m, beating every single wigan player, stopping short of the line, running back to his own ingoal area, then doing the same thing again, beating every wigan player and touching down under the posts and you still wouldnt think it was a great try.

Duh. Try scored as a result of poor defence shocker.

All tries are scored as a result of poor defence otherwise they would be stopped ... by the defence.

It was a 'superb' try because of the way he timed his run, caught the ball, sidestepped the opposition at speed, legged it, fended, switched the ball from one hand to the other while in motion, and successfully put the ball down. All in one fast, graceful movement. You really are bitter if you can't see the beauty in a try like that.

Good lad.

Sad bast*rd.

Really is hurting the pies that Eastmond is a better player than their saviour.

Wrong on every single level.

I heaped praise on Eastmond for his superb kick to the corner when you finally scored against us on Good Friday. I heaped praise on Eastmond throughout this thread because he's a very good player. If that is being "Anti St Helens", then how exactly can I praise anything they or any of the St Helens team do?

Over the years, I've praised many Saints players, just as I've been critical of Saints players, and I've praised and criticised many players from all teams. I do this WITHOUT bias, if a player is great, I'll say they're great. If they're dirty, I'll say they're dirty.

Here, have one more lump of praise for Eastmond whilst I'm being SO Anti St Helens... he's easily your leading contender for Man Of Steel, and in with a good chance as things stand, equally so Young Player of the Year. However, like the league leadership, these are only really decided at the end of the season, and there's a long way to go.




Not all tries are scored as a result of poor defence. Quins' tries against you, for example, were good tries because your strong defence tried hard to keep them out, but they kept opening doors until they made your line. I wouldn't have said you had poor defence, (OK, maybe for a couple of the tries, but certainly not all of them) but Quins had an uncharacteristically strong attack for their position in the league.

Eastmond's try against Quins is reminiscent of tries scored recently by Amos Roberts, Joel Tomkins, Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow, Kevin Sinfield, Ryan Hall, Sam Obst, and many more. Would you rate any of those players higher than Eastmond? No, neither would I.

Sad, very sad