I don't think Eastmond will make it in Union, too small and too soft.

Gutted if Eastmond is indeed off to Union. I don't care who he plays for aslong as it's in rugbyleague but that doesn't look like being the case and thats really sad for the sport.

Say what you want about the lads injuries but he's a freakish athlete that doesn't come about too often and as he proved in the four nations of 2009 he could bea genuine threat to the Australians and Kiwi's and we simply don't have enough of those.

Awful day for rugbyleague if he does go.

aww, diddums.

don't worry, he'll be back with his tail between his legs in 2 seasons

erm, hate to point it out, but that's why he's going to union?

Wonder what saddened's thoughts are ??

after his laughable rant about wigan not giving thornley what he wanted..I wonder if he's opinion is the same this time round.

He should go now and make Bath or whoever pay for him at least that would be some small compensation for the money Saints have sunk into him.

To be fair to the sad one, I don't think Wigan had to compete with the £200,000 deal that's on the table for Kyle.

He slated wigan for not bowing to his demands.

I wonder if he thinks Saints should be bowing to Eastmonds demands.

To be fair Thornley wasn't one of our star players. The boot is on the other foot here - if you're going to criticise Wigan for not matching a crazy offer for one of their teenaged academy stars then everyone is going to criticise you for not matching the £200k deal for Eastmond.

As it is neither team is at fault. Union has more money and throws it around where they see fit. There's very, very little League can do to prevent it. We SHOULDN'T match these deals, as a code, it's all about being financially responsible. When you have teams going into administration in the SL it'd be foolish for Wigan/Saints/Leeds etc to try to go toe to toe with Twickenham.

The difference is sam loves wigan and wants to play for us

Ive not criticised anyone!

My point is, saints are correct in not bowing down to huge demands for a young kid that is not proved his worth.

IMO I want him to stay as he's going to be a great player but I'm glad that we won't lie down and give him what he wants. He's not worth £200,000 a year at this moment in time.

On the other hand I dont blame him for taking the money as most of us would.

At the end of the day saints won't be held ransom and I totally back that.

There was irony in my post to get a reaction.
Maybe you should have posted the above on the Stains board that when Farrell, Robinson and Ashton then, but most were too busy frothing at the mouth to agree.

I'm disappointed when ANY player decides to jump ship to RU regardless of who they play for. Mainly because I just can't fathom why RU is so popular in this country. I hate how RU is referred to Rugby, and I hate how RL is barely even recognised by the majority of the country when it is the more entertaining code by far.

I still don't think it justifies the argument towards increasing the salary cap though. If a player gets paid £100k a year, then with a salary cap increase their wages go up to £200k a year, that doesn't make them a better player. Just a better paid player and a poorer club.

Saddened's thoughts will be the same as usual: "What's happening in and around Wigan RL this week? There must be something I can lambast them, mock them, belittle them etc for? Oh ..." and as a brief afterthought, "wonder if there's owt happening down Saints way?"

I don't doubt Sam loves Wigan because it's clear he does but £200,000 a season is very good money and I doubt he'd turn that down.