I'm a huge fan of Eastmond, I think he has huge potential. I always wondered why Potter never really shouted from the rooftops about him, and almost played the hype down a bit. I presumed it was because he was trying to look after him a bit. But now I'm thinking otherwise. He has so much to learn about the game, which is fair enough, he's only 20. Saying that, we've seen plenty of 20 year olds in the past, practically run the show for there team ie. Goulding, Farrell, Sinfield etc.
Eastmond, for me, isn't a team player. He can't direct the team around the pitch. And this is my worry, I don't think he's too worried about this. To me, he wants to win the game all by himself. He can kick decently on the last, but I don't believe he actually thinks about where he's placing it. Were Leon Pryce works really well off Long, I think Leon struggles a bit with Kyle. I really hope Eastmond is willing to learn the game, rather than trying to be the star man. Although I suspect, Union will beckon him.
If I was Potter, I would move Wilkin to Stand off, and Pryce to Scrum Half. Proper team players who can run the game. And would use Eastmond has a impact sub. Obviously until Long is back.

From an outsider Eastmond tried to run the show in attack for Saints yesterday and looked a real threat but he had little helf from his teamates and especially his halfback partner.

Cunningham and Graham did their usual busting a gut routine but 2 men alone don't usually lay a platform for the halfs to work on especially against such a well drilled side.

I thought the likes of Pryce and Wilkin let down Eastmond yesterday.

I was waiting for someone to start criticizing Kyle. Painful as it was, yesterday will be a huge learning experience for him. Give the lad time and get off his back. He can do without all this pressure. The more he gets the more he may be inclined to move to union where he may be valued more. He is an extreme talent to be nurtured and developed not scape goated following a semi final defeat where there were far more seasoned performers who didn't play as well as Kyle.

thats very true, if saints say anything it will be "he's contracted for next year"

20 year old kid playing in what must only be about his 5th start at scrum half, in a cup semi final behind a beaten pack. He made some errors accordingly, but wasn't that bad considering (no worse than Tomkins was for Wigan on Saturday).

A bit of a controversial statement here possibly but I don't think you will win anything with him at 7. At least not for a couple of years. The kid is an outstanding talent but with him and Pryce you have two runners and no organiser and I think you will miss Long more than you realise. Leeds get away with having no ball players at 6 and 7 because they have Sinfield playing loose forward but you don't play with a creative 13.

We wont win anything when Paul Sculthorpe leaves for the Sydney Roosters or Retires!! Oh wait.........

watching the half time parade with the likes of Scully and Joynty made me think that we have no leader on the field in the way these two used to.

The Bulls won everything with Paul Deacon at scrum half. That's more than enough evidence to undermine your ridiculous statement.

Jammer. Arnold will do it when he gets to grips. I remember him bollocking a senior player on debut.

I had exactly the same thought when KC and Graham were both off the field at the same time in the 2nd half. Wellens would be the natural leader, but its hard for him to do it from behind the line at full back.

Wilkin and Pryce needed to step up yesterday like they did in the cup game against Leeds, and they didnt.

I remember this as well, some players are just born to make themselves heard on the pitch. Its like when Thomas Gravesen left Everton when Real Madrid signed him and on his debut he came on as sub and after about 5 minutes went off his head at Zidane.

If he doesn't sign for saints your club is just plain stupid. Saying that though, your club is not that stupid. I would take Eastmond over Leuluai anyday.

I'm sorry but i'm going to take exception to most of your opinion here.



As you rightly say he is only 20, but not only that you need to remember that the semi was only around his fifth game starting at scrum-half in the first team. Ask any of the lads he played with at academy and reserve level whether he is a team player, they'll give you a more accurate answer.

Directing a team around the pitch as we've seen Longy do for around a decade takes not only experience in the game but time playing with the same players and the confidence of and within those players that that brings. Along with a degree of bravado and a good rugby brain, but most importantly in games like the one on Saturday a good platform laid on for you by good forward play, which sadly we have been lacking at times this season.



What gives you this impression? The two times he didn't pass to the wingers on Sunday perhaps? Surely the fact that he backed himself was based on the fact that he'd broken through the defensive line (and was the only one to really do this in the last 20 metres all game) and felt he had the pace to out run the defenders to the line (as he did in the previous game against Wigan). Had he scored on both occasion would anyone be criticising him for it?



This goes back to the point I made about the platform laid out for him by the forwards, the majority of his kicks during the semi were excellent, he often split and/or turned the defenders, it was when he was denied the time and space to kick by the poor protection provided by his team-mates, the excellent line speed and pressure of Hudds and arguably the poor policing of the 10 metres by Silverwood that he struggled, as would any kicker.



Leon has been playing alongside Long for 3/4 years now, of course he works well off him compared to Kyle!!! Rome wasn't built in a day bub!



I've seen nothing to suggest he isn't.



Its a good job you aren't Potter. Wilkin is not a stand off and Pryce is certainly not a scrum-half. We've tried this already this season and the Leeds game aside it hasn't worked.

If both are as good at running the game as you suggest where were they on Sunday, and where has Leon in particular been in the last two Grand Finals? Don't get me wrong I am fans of both players but they have not impressed over recent weeks.



And kill the kid's confidence ahead the rest of the season and next season when he will potentially be Long's full time successor?



Goulding was already 22 by the time he signed for Saints from Widnes and when he came he was playing behind a dominant pack.
Farrell yes, though he was a complete freak in RL terms and playing in a still dominant Wigan side during the first half of his career.
Sinfield... i can't agree with that sorry he by no means running the show at Leeds at 20.


Frankly i think you are doing the lad a huge disservice based on a handful of first-team appearances in an under performing off form team.

I agree.

Kyle eastmond
whatta player? he´s only 18 isn´t he?
World Class!

Fair play mate, I can't really argue with that too much, we have a difference of opinion, but you put your point across brilliantly. I really really want you (rather than me) to be right on this one. He is a great talent, although strange as it sounds, I believe Wheeler will go on to make the bigger impact at the club.

18 yes, and the "world class" is trademarked to the saints club, as of 1996.

I think you might be getting a little excited ,good,but not world class!!!

My boss' brother is on the coaching staff at sale, so I asked him about this rumour on tuesday. Today he tells me that not only have sale NOT signed him, but they have no plans to.

When compareing Kyle to Longy a lot of people forget what Long was like when he first came to Saints, in my opinion a lot like Kyle is now. The main difference is Sean Long played alongside Tommy Martyn who helped in his development the same (I hope ) that Kyle will be helped by Pryce.

i was discussing that witha mate this week, when longy started tommy took control and led the creative plays, what's leon doing now? Not enough imo

He's not the same kind of player Martyn was though. Pryce has been involved far more in directing the team this year than he has been before.

I agree, Pryce has done more in defence and organisation this year. Saints half backs in the past have relied on instinctive plays which you only get over playing time.
I,m quite happy with Eastmond at the moment, the more games under his belt with Pryce the better the combinations will be.
Also like someone else has mentioned Wheeler looks as though he could end up more influencial, but I have this nagging doubt whether he can stay injury free.

since longy's been out though he seems to have lost confidence, he didnt do much against wigan or hudds. Time to step up and make the england 6 jersey his.