Thought he was all round pretty good away at Leeds a couple of weeks back too. Defensively good against Senior....

You can only tie him down if he wants to be tied down. If the reports of Sale's interest are true then they'll be able to offer much more than Saints can. Throw in the draw of their international game and the fact that he'll probably only be required to make 3 or 4 tackles a game and you can see why he'd fancy it.

We should'nt make him one of the top earners until he has shown he can move the team around the park for a full season. If Offiah has brainwashed him into thinking he deserves Long's wage, then he's going to be in for a big shock as well as a possible transfer.

If, come this time next year, he's played the full season at 7 and done what is asked of him, then the upgrade in the contract will come. Anything before that is ridiculous if you ask me.

Agree with that mate, 100%.

Agreed.

Did’nt Maurice Bamford once say the forwards are the piano that the half backs play?

Too often Eastomd has played Chopsticks as opposed to Chopan. There is little doubt he has talent and is a really excisitng prospect. Equally true is that he offers a remedy to the one deficiency in our back line which is pace.

Yet, until he can dominate the opposition for 80 minutes at half back and do this on a consistent basis, then it would be folly to offer him anything near what Longy in his prime was getting.

I think the forwards [icarry[/i the piano and the backs play it.

He hasn't even had the impact of a young Roby yet, let alone Murphy!!

He should be on a decent contract, but the same as Longy? The bloke is a man of steel and 3 time Lance Todd winner.

Eastmond has a LONG way to go before we start throwing £100k+ at him. He needs to prove he can play a couple of months without picking up an injury for starters.

That's my major concern. There was a point on Saturday where he went in at dummy half and caught a boot on his shin. Whilst I agree it can be painful, he started limping like he'd had a prop forward land on it. Until he toughens up, there's a big question mark over that side of him.

Yeah I saw that. A touch of the Drogbas.

It's also the main reason I don't think he'd make it in Union.

Eastmond is looking a bit tougher these past 6 weeks, I think he will go OK for us next season.

If he is here, which he will be, hopefully...

Contracted for next season, it's the season after that looks dicey.

Which begs the question as to whether he should be given any responsibility next season if he's not going to be there for the long term. We'd be better served by having him as a luxury extra and bedding in Matty Smith or Jamie Ellis.

Agreed. We would be foolish to throw all our eggs in one basket, especially given that we do actually have options available to us next season. I'd definitely like to see more of what Ellis can offer as I haven't seen him play first grade yet (not being present at the two away matches we lost when the poor lad was dropped in at the deep end).