Well that's the sixty thousand dollar question, figuratively and literally. At the end of the day we're in the dark on this. Eastmond is a kid and a bloody gifted one, too. He may or may not be the playmaker we desperately need, but we DESPERATELY need a playmaker. Which leaves us standing centre stage in a seller's market. In poker parlance Eastmond and Offiah have the high hand whilst McManus is aiming to bluff.

It's a bad situation. But it's wrong to slate Eastmond. He's only looking after his own interests. Indeed, I doubt there are many players on our books who haven't argued with the chairman over money in the past.

One thing is for certain - we can't afford to start relying on an unreliable player - especially when he's our only genuine playmaker. McManus and (to some extent) Potter have dug themselves into a hole on this. Long's successor should have been announced twelve months ago - signing or promotion. In an ideal world the signing would have been made on or around the same day. If the plan was to give Eastmond the job he should have started over 50% of this season's games, so when Long hangs up his boots he picks them up whilst they are still warm. If that WAS the plan it went tits up from the very beginning. Granted, Kyle had one or two injuries at the start of the year so he couldn't get game time, but I'm not convinced Potter would have played him anyway.

Which gets us to the thorny question: If Eastmond was playmaker elect, why has the club shown such little confidence in him this year? We've all heard McManus talking about bringing through an "exciting generation". Great. Nobody with a brain would disagree. But neither McManus nor Potter have shown much interest in "bigging" Kyle up this season. When he's fit he doesn't play, or play in the right position. When he plays well he's often been damned with very faint praise. Reading between the lines I think the club is in no way convinced by him - both as a player and a person. And it's been like this for up towards twelve months.

So why have we not acted? McManus appears like some startled rabbit trapped in the headlights of an onrushing truck that will do a hell of a lot of damage to us if it hits. I just don't get it. McManus is a smart guy. Nothing like some of the dillons who've steered the ship in the past. He must know this problem is only going to get WORSE until he makes the call to pay up or send Kyle on his way and look toward someone else.

Im minded of Sean Longs comments in his book.
Always turn down the 1st contract offer.

Kyle knows he is in a strong position and lets be honest Saints 1st offer is probably a test the water offer.

They will have an amount they can afford and Kyle and his agent will have an amount that they desire.

I expect Saints to come back later next year with a better offer. Probably not as much as Kyle would dream of, but a decent one.

There is also my opinion that all this rumour mongering, a lot of which is coming from Wigan fans, is merely an attempt to unsettle the player and turn Saints fans against him. So that he can then go to pastures new. Wigan being the dream ticket for these people.

As for Mugwump saying Saints have been daft, well they havent because Matty Smith is still at the club, he is a fine and proven half back, not as exciting as Kyle but competent, and as good as most in SL.
He will be on a month to month contract at Salford so if Kyle decides to leave then Saints can bring Matty back.

Can I borrow your tin foil hat?

I think there's so much discussion from Wigan fans because of Kyle's obvious talent and he's great to watch, I don't think it's got anything to do with unsettling him (we don't all meet up and plan Machiavellian strategies to harm your long term future).

I'd expect exactly the same debate would be going on with Saints fans if Sam Tomkins wasn't on a long term deal -it's just perfectly natural, we're all rugby league fans after all and can spot a special player.

I hope he works things out at Saints and settles into a roll, I want to see the lad stay in League he's the type of player we have to invest in as a sport if we want to progress against the Ockers.

You're right. Smith is "as good as most in SL" - though what THAT says about SL is anyone's guess. And we can rely on him-ish (what release clauses are built into his loan agreement?). But Smith hardly has McManus' confidence. If he did he wouldn't be out on loan.

So, again, you're right. We're not staking an entire season on a kid we are not entirely confident in. [iWe are staking it on TWO kids we're not entirely confident in.
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Which is not the kind of behaviour I'd expect from a club that has set such high standards for a decade in on-the-field performance and professionalism. Not one bit.

Or one the other side of the fence

.....we have our fingers in a couple of pies. Smith, ala the Moore situation has been sent out to gain valuable 'on site' experience.

Too many variables to guess at regarding the Smith/Eastmond situation, however, we still hold the registration of two young, talented scrum halves with a few more coming through the system.

Eastmond is going to sign a new contract anyway, unless his dad is lying to a close friend which I very much doubt.

If Sale are going to sign him, they aren't going to play him at scrum half for sure - if he's not up to an organising role at 7 in leage he certainly can't do it at union where that position is far more about controlling play rather than exciting running.

He'll have to play on the wing - no other realistic option.

Playing 9 in Union is a doddle, I should know, I did it for years. You roll up, flick the ball to the fly half who does most of the organising, or pop it up to a prop or second row to cannon in close to draw defenders. Some times throw in a surprise scoot for success.

You see, thats the big difference in Union. There isnt really as much need for an organiser and nor is there one. Even the position you would think would be ideal for organiser, a fly half, is just a glorified centre. They certainly dont have players leading them around the field in the same way someone like Long did for St helens.

and which team did you play for?

Stratford upon Avon and South Warwickshire District as a teen.

ahh thought you might have meant round the NW area as I played for a few years