Don't forget Lee Smith had a longish term contract with Wasps (3 years?) and came back to RL within months.

Lee Smith is (actually, was) a good player - but Kyle Eastmond he ain't.

I disagree, Eastmond is a far better player than Smith, but he needs to sort his attitude out, and maybe if he does fail at RU then it'll be the kick up the backside he needs.

From what I seen on SLS, Eastmond looked on fire at fullback. Also seemed to smile for once!

He did, made me cry it did. He was making hand gestures to the crowd after skinning the fullback to score and this time they weren't two fingered ones. He's a cracking player and a massive loss to us (Based on what he could have been).

Yeah more money, from endorsements, personal sponsorship etc that you get from a sport with a bigger international presence.

He's gone for the money and it's difficult to blame him for that aspect as it's a job to him and most of us would switch jobs if we were offered more cash upfront and better prospects...

I do however blame Kyle for his total lapse(s) in judgment earlier in the year (going on TV to talk like he did shows a lack of maturity and respect) and terrible performances on the field probably caused by a complete lack of focus.

The club can be blamed for not doing something earlier contract wise (if he refused to sign we could have sold him potentially like the do in football when a players contract is winding down) but the way the actual move has been handled is 100% all Eastmond's fault and nothing to do with the club

Just saw the SLTV report from the game and Kyle looked like he was giving an all-action performance. You could also see him celebrating and enjoying himself.

C'mon Kyle, take this chance at full back and turn your (our the team's) season round. You've been with us since you were 14, let's make sure you leave with some good memories and wash away all the from earlier this year.

You've got my full backing, kid.

I genuinely think he could be a revelation at full back for the remainder of the season. We need pace and zip in that position and his support play is outstanding. Him, Lomax and Pryce lining up together (fully fit obviously) at 1,6, and 7 is frightening for any team to face and would give us a good shot at competing.

He has got great potential at fullback with his explosive pace and the extra space he'll get would really benefit us in attack but I'm not sure how he'd handle the high ball and cope in defence.

Let's not hype him up as a top class fullback yet, he was only playing Wakefield.

Kyle has always been a good attacker, its his defence that has been suspect, and he had no defence to do yesterday. Against Wigan/wire/hudds i fear he'd get smashed out of the way or simply run over

he didn't look like a good player last night when Freddie Vaccari made him look foolish.

This is my fear too with Kyle, although not just him (our whole backline if Wello isn't there). I'd add the Dragons to your list as well because they are a big set of blokes. But not only that, they have Blanch, who seems to be running red hot at the moment and able to score tries that a human being shouldn't be able to score and Menzies who seems to run teams ragged when really he should be drawing his pension.

I don't have much hope of a win at all on friday night tbh. In fact, I have no hope!

If Dureau (sp) doesn't play I think Saints will win, he is the catalyst for them.

he will be a big loss for you and it all shows how you replace him and what you do from then. but in the long run can see him coming back to league one day as don't think he will suit union.

no one can blame the lad for going to union it's a major payt rise for him think him staying at saints would be like any person outside of sport turning down a promotion it ain't gonna happen.

where do you think lance hohoiho(sp) whatever his name is, is going to play for you (halves or fullback)?

Is there any clause that has been written into his contract with Bath, that Saints get first refusal should a return to League occurs?

No, why would there be? He is out of contract so we don't have a say in the matter.

There's been a couple of occasions this season weher wello has nailed someone close to the line, but the past few weeks he's been too knackered to have any sort of authority like that.
Kyle was always keen to chase back and at least people wont beat him for pace as easily. Front on against the big lads? Well, hopefully he can be enough of a speed bump to allow our scramble to get back in time.
The high ball worries me, but even Wello's been letting them bouce lately.

We'll be a much better team with Eastmond at fullback imo.

And you'll be an even better one with Lomax at fullback

Lomax will be slick, but is a much harder lad, so that will help him when defending the line. I'll miss him battling at 1st receiver though.

In my ideal world we'd keep Pryce and have Lomax at 1, Pryce at 6 and Hohaia at 7 next season. You could always alternative Hohaia and Lomax, but both roles are similar. Gaskell and Wheeler the back up and future options.

Pryce has not signed or been offered any thing yet so you may get your wish

I agree. Lomax at fullback, pryce at stand off and lance at scrumhalf.

I really dont think Leon will be a saints player next year, which is a shame because i hope he is.
1 Lance
6 Leon
7 J-Lo
would be my ideal, but i think Leon is gone and we'll still use Wello at 1, leaving us with
1 Wello
6 Lance
7 J-Lo

If pryce does stay I'd prefer lomax at fullback than lance. Lance is very suspect under the high ball.

I don't like the look of lomax and lance in the halves.