Signed for Leeds, didn`t see that coming!

Be interesting to see how he goes, haven't seen him since he left Saints which must be nearly 10 years ago now? Anyone seen anything of him recently?

Left Leicester in August, has he played for anyone since?

I see he was one of 5 Leicester players who had their contracts terminated after refusing to take a 25% pay cut.
Marquee signing then ?

Could be a really interesting signing, not only for Leeds but, if he goes well, there could be a World Cup spot for him ?
Obviously signed as cover for the injured Lui but, if he is anything close or better than the player that swapped codes a few years ago, he could be a very astute signing for Leeds.
The salary cap could be interesting ?

Salary Cap:

"Returning Talent Pool Dispensation – Any Player who has not previously played rugby league in the 5 years prior to signing is given a value of 50% of his true value in the first year of his contract and 75% of his true value in the second year"

Hence he's on a 2 yr deal.

Even at 50% (and then 75%) he wont be cheap.
They may be able to juggle some of the cap spend with any long term injuries but, he's still a big signing and regardless of the amount which goes towards the cap, his wages will be making a hole in someone's pocket.

As I said earlier, if he can adapt to RL again, quickly, he could be a very, very good signing.

Could possibly ask for dispensation on the cap with Walker apparently out for the season.
Didn`t Cas do the same last year?
That way there`s some wiggle room on the cap I guess.

He’s come full circle considering his problems started after a reserve game against Leeds.....

He was quality at the start of his union career but these past few years he hasn’t been particularly good. Struggled to get into a poor wasps team and was injured most of the time and then looked woefully out of place at Leicester.

The electric pace he had at Saints has completely gone and he is very pedestrian these days. Massive gamble from Leeds, hope they aren’t paying a lot

Interchange No.9 is how I would use him, but I guess R Agar knows better than me.

Isn't he there because Robert Lui is out long term?? Makes Eastmond a number 6?

Or would you give Sutcliffe the "6" shirt back?

Lui is out for up to 3 months and Walker out for the season.
Added to that Gale might miss the start as well as McLelland.
Don`t think Agar will play him at 9 with Leeming and Dwyer in the squad.

Bang on right, the two hookers are very good players,,,,,,,

Feel very torn on this there is part of me hopes he is a big flop ( which will be bad for Leeds who we are competing with )

Part of me hopes he is as good as he was before he went to Union as would significantly improve England’s options for the RLWC.

But I genuinely cannot see himself being the player he was . 8 years older, injury problems, will not have the intensity and fitness of current RL player and has probably played no more than 40 minutes in a game of Union for years.

I will be surprised if this comes off but let’s wait and see.

Are you feeling the same as me that he let down the game down by going to union and now is back knocking on the door, he was rated as the up and coming star and we didn't see the best of him

Yes to an extent . Went to Union and did not see much of him. Not sure what Union fans thought of him but he was no Jason Robinson . Just no idea what he will be like for Leeds just hoping he is not taking RL for a ride

Not many rugby league converts will be Jason Robinson and to be fair, eastmond was quality at the start of his union career. That said, at the end he was terrible and no union team wanted him so he was lucky that Leeds rhinos did

It's more in hope, there are 44 former RL players currently suing the sport over neglect in not protecting their brains sufficiently, I wouldn't pick a player under 6" to play in the halves, taking the ball to the line. Short players should only be considered for the No.9 role from now on IMO, it would be a dereliction of duty by the coach to put him anywhere else, unless he's Cooper Cronk or Andrew Johns, so obviously I'm talking about the exceptions, so the top 1% of the top 1%. Eastmond is good but, one he's shorter than Cronk and he's not as good in any case.

Eastmond seems to have that unique combination of skills that endears him to his clubs. He has the ability to rub people up the wrong way and the bad habit of getting broken for long periods of time. As a result he has just never settled and cracked on anywhere. Leeds must be the last chance saloon.

Really ??
What effect do you think making 40+ tackles a game has in relation to contact with the head.

Incidentally, you mention 44 former RL players suing the sport.
Are they suing RL or RU and what position did they play in both sports.

Half backs need speed, agility and balance, plus ball skills and reading of the game.
The height of the player makes relatively little difference.

Do you want your 6ft player (I'm assuming that you didn't mean 6 inches

) to be skinny or, should you also put a minimum weight in the criteria too.

nice one...........

Indeed 6'


Not sure which positions. They are suing RL I think. Look at the halves in the NRL, 5'10" is the shortest I can find, vast majority are 6' plus. Luke Brooks hasn't come on due to his lack of height IMO, compare him with M Moses.

What do you find funny? People have had brain damage due to RL. I think R Burrow's MND has come on earlier due to rugby. We have to protect the brain's of players during training, I think they've been rattling around too often. Haven't you been reading and listening to the evidence?

I think Donnyman is laughing at you saying don`t play anyone under 6 inches in the halves and certainly don`t think he is laughing at someone who can get brain damage.

Thanks for that. I'm not even laughing at Mr. Welsh, just the slip of the Tongue.

I don't think that six footers only going in the halves will work. There are some small guys who haven't had any great head problems and there's tall lads that have like Stevie Ward. Do I have the answer? NO but does anyone in either Rugby code or in soccer have the answer.

How's boxing getting on with the issue? Should sport be the only target of accident reduction? let's bring all speed limits down by 10 MPH??