This veiw is getting kind of annoying.

Eastmond has had very few chances to play 7 for us, as the only times Long's been injured, he's tended to be out aswell. Despite this he's still been puched into involvement because he has the abilty and pace to get by in a decent team playing out of position.

However,

In the very few times we've seen him play 7 and stand at 1st receiver, he displayed his real potential, imo. He has an excellent and varied kicking game, he can distribute and get runners going, his support play is good and he's not afraid to take on the line.

People seem to be of the optinion that having pace detracts from your ability at scrum half.

The only question mark is his defence, but he's probably not the only 18 year old scrum half that'll have that problem.

replacements.
danny brough- looks a cert at the moment that he's leaving wakey. a direct replacement that would'nt command HUGE wages like thurston

richie myler- a quality quality young scrum half i.m.o destined to be a great. no disrespect to salford but its only a matter of time before he moves on to bigger and better things

jonathan thurston- probably the worlds best s.h signing him would be up there with anybody saints have ever signed i.m.o but he would want HUGE wages to give up a s.o.o and test shirt to come over to old blighty. i also suspect he or his agent are using our competition to bump up his contract...

then we have baby tyson and wheeler who have been developed by the club and moulded into what they want them to become and by ignoring them for a more established half back(or indeed a aussie superstar) would go against what saints stand for regards young english talent.

my gut feeling is that we will make a move for brough though...

I dont see anything in Brough, journeyman pro, not Saints class.

Re Myler, very good young player but only reason is being touted ahead of likes of Eastmond by some is because he is a big fish in a small pond and so stands out in a poor side. Myler IMO is no more talented at this stage than the likes of Tomkins at Wigan or Eastmond and Wheeler at Saints. The difference is that he is starting every game, and playing for the full 80 minutes.

Thurston is world class, and would on paper be an awesome signing, but if he came purely for the money could turn out to be a MAttk King style signing. With high quality juniors coming through i dont think he is a high priority for us. Better to get world class players in the centres were we do have a deficiency.

To be honest, if you show me the squad we've got less longy, I'd still go for 1 or even 2 big props first.

bring back matty smith and alternate with eastmond.

thats the best option for me

Me too.

Long is in quite a poor position to bargain from. His form has been below his standards, he will be 33 at the end of this season, and we have Eastmond and Smith contracted, so if one doesn't make it we still have a backup. We can also use wilkin and roby at 7 if needed. With pryce and wheeler at 6 our options in the halves are almost limitless. See you at Celtic longy.

I would release Smith and utilise his wage to boost our search for a prop forward and another centre.

I would use Eastmond and Lomax at 7 if Long leaves also.

We hav'nt seen lomax at all in the first team, so with a season in superleague behind him i'd put smith in first. He'll do well behind a better pack

Yes we have, and I am not convinced Smith will be a top quality 7 going forward. I would give Eastmond the opportunity first.

In superleague? or was it in the friendlies, i just hadn't noticed him

He's supposed to be a standoff, but have heard he could be a full back. Do you think he could possibly switch to 7?

On limited viewing I think so.

Others who watch the reserves week in week out will be better placed than myself to make a more informed comment.