Today's Times reports that he walked out on Bath at half time during last week's game at Sale, reportedly saying he'd had enough of union and wanted to return to league.

Would you lot want him back?

Like I said on the VT

"I would imagine Hull FC are desperate for a half decent HB, can't see Wire going for him even with the Briers retirement, if they do then that's GO'Bs Wire career certainly finished."

Is it the usual silly rumour though or is there actual substance to it?

Comes from Mark Souster, the Times' union correspondent. Decent-sized article that includes a comment from the Bath club to the effect that they're helping Eastmond deal with various issues during what is clearly a difficult time for him. That the club have commented suggests to me that there's a degree of truth in it, although how much is anyone's guess. Just thought I'd flag it up because if a player of Eastmond's quality was to return to the game it would be a big deal for whoever signed him.

Hull Fc should be sniffing round there now seeing what the score is

One would hope we would be in the running. He'd be perfect for us, the individual threat to go with Walshys organisation.

But as much as I would love to see Kyle back at Saints, I think our brain dead fans burnt those bridges and we'll no doubt be tormented by him in a Wire, Wigan or Hull shirt for the next five years.

I'm aware of the article but sometimes wonder about journalists putting 2 and 2 together and getting 5.

He might not be happy in Bath rather than union, he could just be generally unhappy.

His bridges are burned at Saints though so I doubt he'd come back to Saints.

Teams that would seriously consider this I would imagine would be

Hull x2
Catalan
Salford
Widnes

maybe Hudds at a push, can't see Wigan but that would be interesting purely because of the reason Matt Smith left Saints.

You normally make sense but in this instance your talking crap. Eastmond burned his own bridges by playing like a zombie when he'd made his call to leave. I dont speak for others but personally I respect a player who decides to leave as long as they put 100% in while they are still with Saints and being paid by us e.g James Graham. He showed a poor professional attitude and the crowd got on at him because of that and nothing else.

Bridges can always be rebuilt especially in professional sport but I honestly cant see him back at Saints. In fact if he did want a league return I wouldnt be shocked to see him in the NRL. If he wanted to stay in the UK then I guess Salford would be front of the queue with the good doctor flashing his cash

Will be interesting to see how this develops (if at all.)

I'm not sure how I feel about him, he burnt his bridges here for sure, and some of his final performances we some of the laziest I've ever seen ...

BUT I can see the benefits of him coming back - he'd be off cap as an RU international (presumably) and he'd solve our halfback problem - we did put a lot of eggs in this basket with regards players we retained at the time

There would have to be a lot of grovelling on Kylie's behalf (which I don't think would happen) but could be the return of the prodigal son ...

Why would he need to grovel? Plenty of teams would sign him given the chance

he'll cruise into plenty of teams as mentioned above - he'd need to make up with Eamon to come back to Saint though which would take grovelling (and why I can't see it happening)

Id 100% have him back. He's this that X factor

He had the x factor. His failure to make the top grade in union shows that his mojo has departed.

How much has he unlearned by playing on the wing in union for the last three years?
I personally think his half back play will have atrophied through lack of use.

We have seen in the past that players like Iestyn Harris, Chev Walker, Lee Smith etc come back from union in a depleted state.

It could take him two years to catch up to were he was when he first got picked for GB, at which point he would be off to the NRL.

For me Saints need to develop some stability in the halves to get combinations working. I think that would be difficult to do with Kyle, as he comes across as a player who is always looking for his next big pay cheque.
We have already had our britches burned by him, so it would be more fool us for trying to resign him.

Let another club take the risk, and for me its a big risk, especially when seeing his attitude in his final season at Saints.

I can see 2 outcomes of him coming back to League.

2 years in SL, he's great and then off the the NRL for the big bucks.
Back in SL but slower and not as sharp. Flatters to deceive.

If we could be certain of option one then that would be fab, but we would need a more up front honest approach from the club and Kyle, that we are to be a spring board to bigger money.

The issue last time was the will he won't he game. If he had come out and said I'm going to union, then we could have shipped him out for a fee a year earlier or had more chance to plan ahead.

The danger is the Harris scenario where you get a bit of a pudding back.

If he was coming back I'd expect us to be in the mix, in the end money talks regardless of circumstances previously. If Brown was doing all the dealing it could be seen as a fresh start from both sides.

But it's a lot to read into one rumor.

The fact he's not been great in union has no bearing on how he would be in league. Kyle eastmond was the most talented player we'd produced since KC. He had everything to be a league great but took the money.

McManus knew how good Kyle was going to be and did everything to keep him. McManus felt very let down by Kyle when he left.

he didn't even do bad in union haha. The bath fans are worried and he has got 2 caps for england he has hardly failed. Bath Style of rugby is terrible this season and the backs just dont get given the ball.

Totally agree!

Any team in super league would be crazy not to want him. He's pure talent.

I can see him at Salford, purely because they're linked with everyone, or Hull, because they need a halfback.

Kyle acted like a total mammary gland at the end of his Saints career, but I'd have him back at the club in a heartbeat. He's probably in the top 2 or 3 most exciting prospects to come out of our academy in the 20 years I've been watching. If we signed him and gave him the 6 shirt I think we'd become title favourites overnight.

The only thing that would make me think twice would be his injury record, but I believe that has improved with age.

a big plus for signing eastmond would be not worrying if he is going to be tapped up by union. Just the NRL to worry about haha. Also i think he is over the worse of the injuries

Spot on

And we don't?

I would certainly have him back, I honestly believe he was ill advised about his future and someone got inside his head.
He could have been playing half back in league for England in the world cup if his head was screwed on the right way.
As mentioned he would have to convince Eamon McManus that he is now mature, reliable and dedicated to a future with the club.

Do you think Kyle has been watching the Rugby League World Cup and has realised a fat pay cheque is no substitute for the game he was really developed for.

I personally think Kyle realised very soon that he wasn't going to adapt to Union. His Twitter postings initially were all about the League he was watching whilst injured. Then there was a spell where you could tell he was trying to fit in, asking where the best pubs/restaurants/shops were in Bath etc. Then there was a lot of moaning from the Bath management about his physical condition and there was obviously friction there. But all along there was an undertone that he wasn't enjoying the sport itself or adapting well on a personal level. A lot of his interviews mentioned that he was the butt of all the jokes from the public school boy brigade at Bath and it seemed whenever he wasn't playing he was spending his time in Oldham rather than Bath. It could all be down to the fact that he's getting no ball at all in the backs at Bath and realises he's unlikely to make the Union World Cup squad. If he's out of that and the big money being an international brings, whats the point suffering the hassle of playing the club game? I'm pretty sure SBW feels this too, if they would allow him to play NRL and international Union for the All Blacks, I'm convinced that is what he would do.

What on earth does 'burnt his bridges' really mean? It's all in the past, we've all got over it and if he comes back and repays us it'll all be forgotten.

Anyone not wanting to take the risk on him is daft, especially with how desperate we are. He'd compliment Walsh superbly too.

I'd have him back without hesitation. He's a player that can make things happen on his own, out of nothing. There aren't many of them about.

Sign him up, get a public apology for his conduct that last time round and everyone is happy. Easy