How good would Eastmond be at 6 with the current Leeds style of play? Rumoured to want a return to league.

I wouldn't want him anywhere near our team. He wouldn't fit into the team dynamic. He's soft. Our priority has to be a quality hooker.

Poor man's Chris Sandow

Agree. Not for me either. Hooker has to be the priority. I like Burrow and he has his place, but there is a noticable difference in the forwards roll forward when Aiton goes off. Bluddy hopeless Stevo seems to think Burrow is Leeds's answer there next season.

If we're getting a half would rather have Brierley on a third of the money of Eastmond and cash left over for a proper hooker.

This.

Was he linked with us or wire?

Wire.

Agreed.with McGuire playing well, Burrow signing a two year deal and Sutcliffe still to return we don't need him.

Hooker has to be a big priority.I'd rather buy Clarke from Wire or Houghton from hull. Even if the latter was just a stop gap.

He seemed like someone who spat his dummy out whilst in RL (remember him in a curtain raiser academy game at Headingley doing a James Graham-esque strop and clapping the away fans without shaking a single opposition hand and storming off).



That as soon as he hasn't made the RU WC squad he's ALLEDGELY said "f**k it I'm off back to RL" doesn't sound any better attitude wise.

Wouldn't want him anywhere near our team? He'd be an outstanding signing for us or any team. In fact, it's a travesty he's not in the England RU squad.

Not a good fit for Leeds,sounds like a Salford / Wigan signing



He has skills, no doubt there but his attitude doesn't sound that cracking .



Maybe that's why he isn't in the squad ?

Sod eastmond. Looking for a move because he's got competition at bath. As said above, he has a pea heart. Bid for Clarke. Can you imagine him at 9?

We would dominate for years.

I'd love us to sign Clarke but just can't see it happening

The rumours are that he wants to move back north, to Oldham specifically. He has a family and apparently it's been on the cards for a while, the omission from the World Cup squad might be the straw that breaks the camel so to speak. If you believe the rumours the rejection from England is a pretty final one, he's been told he has no future in the England squad. Without that element, Union suddenly doesn't have the appeal it might have once had.

with regards to the hooker situation im led to believe that youre looking at Lunt and Houghton and at 6 Brierley will sign if Leigh dnt get promotion. If not you'll turn to Hampshire who is wrongly down the pecking order at Wigan.

Clark would a) cost a big transfer fee, b) is on a big wage, c) has been open about his desire to go to the NRL in a few years so would be a stopgap.



I think he'd be an excellent player for us but for those reasons can't see it happening.

Hampshire isn't a hooker ,though it would be funny to see the Wigan fans reactions.



I still find the Brierly rumour an odd one.



Lunt or Houghton are better than nothing

Outstanding signing? Any particular reason why he should have retained his ability to play league when so many others following a similar path have come back lesser players?

Eastmond's skill set was always much more suited to League than Union. If he can get back to where he was when he left Saints (and unlike Harris for example, he's young enough to do so) then he'll be a good signing for someone. He's also a goal-kicker, which adds to his value.

As a Wigan fan I can confirm the reaction if you signed Hampshire will be meltdown, he'll be your No.6 for the next decade and haunt us in the way Sean Long did.

It loks like the only future he has at Wigan is if Wane goes.

We have McGuire, Sutcliffe and Burrow for next year. Pretty set at 1&6.



I think if we don't sign a hooker and give it to Burrow we would still struggle to fit him in the side.

The only centre in English RU who can pass, and a devastating evasive runner. Of course he's not in the England WC squad.



He has all the skills, the issues he's had at Bath are the ones Jason Robinson avoided by staying up North with Sale - family roots. I'm not sure he would fit at Leeds but could be devastating for another team in SL.

I'd love to see Eastmond back in league simply because the national team needs more options at halfback. The rumours of his poor attitude on occasions are a worry, but he must have worked hard at Bath to adapt his game to suit Union and do what was expected of him. He'd be a good buy for any SL team as long as he's not on silly money.

Eastmond certainly has outstanding skills and would fit in well with the way we are playing. We also have the unique opportunity to offer a player a dual code contract which would keep international dreams alive and help the cap by spreading the costs.



I do not know him personally so cannot comment on his ability to fit in on a personality level. But the young do mature so I would not be in such a hurry to write off such a class player when there are so few real English talents about these days. It would be a real coup for SL as he now is one of RU's star players.



The news from down under may mean future NRL signings will dry up once more as their cap and grants will rise significantly to ensure they keep & sign the elite players so recruiting star talent is all the more crucial.