Our chairman says in todays League weekly that Eastmond turned down a new contract 3 months ago and that now we will wait to see if he plays well constatly at scrum half before offering him a new deal.

That is just plain stupid and proves to me that he is GONE!!

He also says that Eastmond as 15 months on his contract and if he signs a new deal then he does but if he doesent then it's bye bye.

Dissapointing imo. We should offer him the deal now.That creepy bast*rd Tony Smith will be sniffing around him in the 4 nations. (thats if his not signing for Sale, like i was told months ago).

Sad, but we knew this months ago. If he plays a single game at scrum half after turning down a contract, more the fool us.

So this was after we decided to let SL go to Hull I presume?

for me this could be more of a reason that we should buy danny brough. a top top scrum half with a better kicking game than eastmond,long,wilkin&pryce combined!

So Arnold has turned down a contract offer and people are criticising Big Mac for it?

IMHO Eammon is correct, he offered a contract and it was declined. Eastmond should now prove to the board he is worth the money he/his agent are asking for. Granted he is a an exciting talent, however, he is 20 years old and hasn't done it yet. He needs to show week in week out he can do the job before we commit big money to a relatively newcomer.

If he does play well and constantly at scrum half then it gives him much more room for negotiation to get himself the contract level he seems to be after (if you believe all the rumours flying around about him being off to union). If he doesn't step up then the club haven't locked themselves into a big contract with him so in a lot of ways it does make sense. However, it is a risky move but hopefully in the next 12 months it works out.

Eastmond is a talent with prospect and needs to prove himself next year in controlling a team around the field.
He does show signs of class but for me he hasn't done it yet

Prime example the semi final v's Huddesfield were he looked lost

so you marginalise your great hope?

In 12 months time there will potentially be more room under the cap should the club see fit to offer him big bucks!

No one team can revolve around a player, as good as he is likely to be he hasn't done it yet! Big contracts are usually given when the recipiant has proved their worth....thats the same in any walk of life.

I dont understand what people want here, the kids is a talent, sure he is, but we need to employ another 25 players under the cap, there is only so much the club can offer, at the end of the day if he doesn't give a damn about Saints and is after the money, there are other clubs out there who have less spread money and put all their eggs in one basket.

Entirely agree. I tire of the reactionaries on here at times.

The club have taken the right approach. Eastmond is a raw diamond but at the time the contract wass offered, there was a chance he could be more Danny Arnold than James Graham.

Young propsects are hard to deal with and clubs need to think hard these days.

Eastmond looks the works, but needs to call the shots consistently at scrum half. If he is mature enough to look facts in the eye and common sense prevails, then the big contract he is looking for will be there.

IMHO he would do well to distance himself from Mr 42 going on 12 Offiah who still thinks he is pimin' it large.

If eastmond eventually leaves I would hope some indication of the offer comes to light.

No one knows his demands ( if the rumour its longs money then I`d give him that) and the offer made (here's 30K err no thanks)

Shows a lack of class from our chairman to whine about him just turning down a contract.

The lad is a serious talent and on the back of building a stadium "a bums on seat" player.

If he isnt a natural 7 ( and Im not convinced yet he is) , he can still play anywhere in the backs.

Its pointless extolling a "promote from within" strategy, as a reason for not recruiting players, if your not going to keep the best players.

Either he should have been spotted earlier and tied down or show him the money now.

Get real.
Offiah is doing what he is paid for, trying to get the best deal for his client.

Saints have a choice, pay him or not. Of course it's a risk on both parts. Eastmond could have a cr@p season next year and see his value diminish or he could have a good season and see his value increase. The temptation for Saints must be to get rid now and get a transfer fee, as once he's out of contract they will get next to nothing for him.

Either way I just hope he stays in Rugby League.