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Nueturing? I never heard of that technique before











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Good game from Eastmond.

But.

Let's not be too hasty in coming to conclusions.

Remember every coach and most players in Super League will have watched the match or a recording of it.

They will be worried about what he can do if given the opportunity.

Their forwards will be delegated to pick him out as a target, and whether attacking or defending he will have a hard time.

He will need to work on his tackling technique to avoid injury and learn how to protect himself when making a break.

Like Rob Burrow he will doubtless be the victim of a number of high tackles - some deliberate others less so.

In addition he needs to show that his body can withstand the rigours of a full season without succumbing to too many injuries.

The above applies to all sorts of weather from the firm pitches which are Saints delight to the occasional mud baths which are a different kettle of fish.


VERDICT

Extremely promising but still too early for a final assessment.

Cheers

Ch.

Champs,
That's a very good summary.

I was very surprised that Warrington did not target him defensively on Saturday. He missed a couple of tackles early on, and I expected them to send the likes of Westwood at him.

Possibly because they lost, Grix and Clarke this did not happen. I'm sure other teams will "go at him"

When Wigan played Salford in the cup, Shaun Wayne said BEFORE the game in the South Stand Bar before the game that Wigan would target Myler and Ratchford.

Coaches do look at these things.

Eastmond's defence cannot be much worse than Long's, which has been in decline for as long as his health.

I thought he looked quite nervous for the first 20 mins, and the more experienced players seemed to be bypassing him a bit when it came to kicks or big passing plays. During that period he flew out of the line a couple of times and left gaps, but once he got his hands on the ball a bit he calmed down and was great both in attack and defence.

This spell while Long is out is perfect for him to become accustomed to the responsibility of playing 7 at this level before he presumably takes over next year. He clearly has all the necessary talent, and just needs the experience to not be overawed by the responsibility inherent in controlling a leading side in big games.

It has to be said he looked the real deal on Saturday. He'll do for me but it still takes time to be consistently good. We might not win anything this year and maybe not next year either but we'll still be there or thereabouts with Eastmond at 7 as long he stays fit.

Wheeler is just as impressive as well, but is going to end up playing as a semi permanent centre at least for the next 8 matches if fit. What could he do at 6 with Eastmond at 7 in the future but we won't see that partnership for some time until Pryce leaves or retires.

off course they do - well done on stating the obvious....coaches and teams have always, and will always send their big guys to run at the opposition's smaller players.

I see no reason why Eastmond will suffer any more than any other halfback in the history of the game, including Sean Long.

He also had a good game for you against Wigan when he kicked the 40 metre drop goal

Eastmond looks a great talent. I have seen him play at reserve level and I was one of the ones saying he would make it for sure and him playing in super league has only strengthened that view. I hope to see him and Tomkins tear the Aussies appart in years to come.

Eastmond has raw pace and skill which many players lack. He can read a game and can both assist and score tries. IMO he is better than Long at this present time.

Saints have had it spot on with this guy.

The game has changed a lot now. These days you can expect every side to apply that tactic. Go back even ten years and I bet sides that did use this were probably in the minority.

which is a shame as it could lead to larger, less skillful halfbacks

I thought his defence was pretty good to be honest.

King went at him few times and he stopped few times.

A lot is beeing said about his defence but it's not as bad as being made out.

No, but it does need to improve further. He also needs to learn how to hold the ball more securely when being tackled. Him and Roby were probably responsible for most of our handling errors on Saturday night. He also needs to shut up around referees.

If he wants to succeed in SL, he'll correct whatever errors exist in his defence. Provided you aren't concerned about getting the odd bang, tackling isn't a difficult skill to master.

OTOH, you can't teach everyone how to beat two men with a sidestep and a third with pace.

?? Really?? Its taken us 110 years to figure out that lttle guys have trouble tackling big guys?

Tommy Martyn told a story at a dinner the other week about Mike McClennan getting Sonny Nickle to run at Shawn Edwards. I don't think its such a revolutionary idea as you think.

Long, Briers, Burrow, Myler, Smith, Jefferies...I'm sure we could list plenty of half-back enforcers from SL.

After watching him rip Wire to bits last Saturday i'd rather he was injured than Long for our Semi Final


I remember Eastwood first coming on to the scene and saying to the Mrs that he'll be a man of steel one year.

Clint?

Great prospect and a good talent but needs to cut out the back chat, could easily of been sin binned on sat night for it when in the refs face on a couple of occasions.

Says a fan from the club with lee briers!

The only one worse than briers is sinfield!

The guy looks a fantastic player and Saints did the right thing by drip feeding him into the team, however my only concern were I a Saints fan would be that he seems to be injured a fair bit, I would hope for the guys career that he doesn't turn into one of these players that never reaches there potential due to the fact of being in and out of the team through injury.

Never said Briers wasn't mouthy did I, just making a valid point about Eastmond. Typical response from a blinkered stains fan yet again !! Whiter than white your lot aren't they. Read on another post on here someone going on about Leeds back chatting and all the forward passes they get away with, you want to look a bit closer to home Saint have got away with blatant forward passes for years mate.

Easy tiger! No need to get shirty!

I would prefer him not to be giving the ref any grief, but if thats his worst aspect i'll survive. As for blatant forward passes for years, ha! its all swings and roundabouts, for example carvells try, blatant knock on, you win some, you lose some