After the impact he made toward the end of last season the lad must be gutted over his failure to claim a first team jersey for his own so far this.

I think fans need to get off his back and show a bit of support. The lad has oodles of talent - he just needs a clean run without injury.

Why are fans on his back?

A lot of us are advocating him having a full run out for a few games, playing him at full back is no good, rest long and play kyle for a few games.

What are you talking about?
From what i've heard and read from our fans, we're all willing Kyle on to get a secure position in the first team.

There have been some murmurs on here regarding his attitude, which is what I assume Mugwump is referring to.

He has been a bit unfortunate with niggling injuries, but I agree that he is at the stage where, if he is fit, he should be starting a few games at scrum half.

He is so utterly fly off the turf that it's no wonder he's always injured. If I walked with such swagger I would probably injure myself a lot.

Awesome talent, but it's a massive ? as to whether he can ever hold down a regular starting position in Super League. It's not a good sign when a youngster is always going down with injuries.

They used to say the same thing about Steven Gerrard. Didn't they attribute such to "growing pains" or something or other? Tommy Martyn spent three to four years out with various injuries - some serious, others less so, and then played not far short of a full season every season until he moved.

Eastmond has had a bad run. But there's no reason to suggest he'll be a crock for the rest of his life. As for his size, the way some of you talk you'd think he were Tom Thumb.

Kyle Eastmond, yesterday.

I don't think he'll be dissapointed he's not pinned down a starting spot, but I'm suprised we haven't seen more of him so far this season.

Whilst his pace is impressive and has allowed him to slot into the team in various positions, for me, he is twice the player when he stands at first receiver, like he did at the JJB.

The only obsticle I can really see for him becoming the saints 7 when long leaves is if they decided to push wheeler in there infront of him (following comments by big mac mentioned somewhere else on the forum). I'm not sure if Wheeler's kicking game compares to Eastmond's, though.

old

I may be crazy, but I do not think Eastmond is a 7, for me he is more a 6. IMHO our best bet for a Scrum Half from the academy went on loan. Matty Smith for me had what every great scrum half needs, not pace off the pitch but a great rugby brain and the ability to control the flow of play, with a great kicking game. At such a young age to have this I think he could become a real quality half back. Lets hope we do not do what Wigan did to Long, cause IMHO it would be a big mistake.

My view entirely.

Smith is the better 7 NOW and the better option to take over in the future. Eastmond, for me, cannot control a game and is too similar to Pryce in style of play.

I'd love to see both succed, but i don't think Eastmond will be the great success people make him out to be.

Why?

I've seen nothing to indicate that Eastmond can't control a game. Nor do I see any great similarity between his game and Pryce's, other than that they can both run fast.

To me he looks a more natural 7 than Smith, who doesn't take the line on anywhere near enough, and whose last tackle options in the opposition half are generally poor.

From an outsiders point of view i don't see how Eastmond could prove to anybody that he's a 7,6 or a fullback or whatever. The lads hardly had any chances this year apart from little bursts in some games and thats no way for him to prove his worth in any position.

Give him a run of games in a position and then people can make thier judgements on him.

I don't know who you've got next week but Catalans this week and Gateshead in the cup in a couple of weeks would seem a good opportunity to give him a crack at 7.

He has had a string of injuries this season unfortunately which makes it hard for that to happen.

Fair enough. I thought he was getting over the injury problems this year but just wasn't getting picked on a regular basis by Potter.

Injuries or not until he's gets over them and gets a regular run in the side it's tough to judge him.

I'm sure with a run he'd become a very good player. Thats seems to happen with the majority of Saints youngsters however limited their skills may seem(i don't mean that in a bad way).

I've seen nothing to suggest he can.


They both need a good pack to play. If Eastmond is behind a beaten pack he can't use his skills, likewise with Pryce. Also i think in really bad weather Eastmond could easily be nulified.



I disagree. He may not be the fastest but he does take on the line.



His last tackle options are far better than Eastmond. He has more attaking kicks, more runs from dummy half and more meters.

Can I ask how many times we've seen Eastmond actually play scrum half? There was the game at the JJB this year, in which he was very assured, and I think one game last year. The rest of the time we've seen him, Longy's always been on the pitch and he's been filling in elsewhere.

Whilst Smith's distance kicking is as good as anyone's, his short kicking game is atrocious. You cannot brush such a weakness under the carpet and carry on. It's an integral part of the game.

I'm not trying to brush anything under the carpet. Eastmond has deficiencies in his game but nobody is accused of "sweeping it under the carpet".

In the games i have seen Smith, his kicking game from short isn't atrocious.

Smith has gone for good.

A promising HB that turned into a John Duffy clone.

More game time from the bench for Eastmond at hb/hooker
will be the making of him. Just needs to get/stay fit.

Kicking can be coached pace and zip can't.

Eastmond needs to learn how to tackle without just closing his eyes, holding his arms out and hoping for the best. Seen him do this far too many times as though hes scared of the colision.

Smith is Shiza. His level is national league.

disagree...kicking is a natural ability and can be practiced but not taught you have to have the ability in the first place otherwise you could teach to every player on the pitch....the forwards for instance the wingers .......its like saying a scrum half can take the ball up like a prop......you can't teach a talent in a certain area.....you can only make an exsisting talent stronger with practice