I’ve no inside information, but here are my observations;

Brown, although playing well this year, is at the tail end of his career and out of contract come November. Over the years he’s suffered more than his fair share of head knocks and I would put the chances of him hanging his boots up at the end of this season at >50%

Roberts, supposedly our marquee signing (has this ever been confirmed by the club?), has failed to shine and, were he to claim that he were homesick, would the club stand in his way? Chance of him being in primrose and blue next season <50%

Patton has been doing alright coming off the bench at dummy half, I also think that Price sees something in him based on interviews, but would he be your choice as senior partner in next year’s halfback combination?

Smith has dropped off the radar and Ratchford is looking more suited to the full back role with each passing game.

In short, we probably need at least one new, quality, half back for next season - and they don’t grow on trees. Eastmond carries risk. He’s been away from League for a long while, he has struggled with injury and, if he didn’t perform, his high salary could be a disruptive influence within the team, however. The rules surrounding players returning from Union mean that we could afford to take the risk without damaging the salary cap.

I think that we are serious about signing him, let’s see if he is serious about a return to League.

Pretty spot on assessment from St Helens Wolf.

I 100% agree with the lack of available and attainable quality players being the key issue for us (and other teams TBF).

We've endured too many years of not getting it right in the halves, which I think has been our biggest barrier to seriously challenging the likes of Wigan and Leeds for the big honours.

My big concern with Eastmond is that he's a punt. If KB and TR are leaving at the end of the season, a hypothetical HB pair of Eastmond + Patton scares me.

There are obviously a lot of ifs and variables still, but if we were signing Eastmond to play, say, FB or , I'd be more comfortable with that. If it doesn't work out, we've not screwed ourselves over too much.

If we're signing Eastmond as our next leading halfback, I'd be a little nervous.

I'll tell you what makes ME nervous -comments like "we've got the money let's spend it" like we're a footballers WAG off the leash in Tiffany's.

Just because we've [icurrently[/i got financial clout doesn't mean we should fritter it away on projects, whims, experiments and speculation. Even if a marquee signing, be it Sandow, Roberts or Eastmond, works financially the disruption and discontent it causes if they fail to deliver represents a risk not worth taking.

For me, bring in a Robert Lui or Jarrod Sammut plus a dangerously aggressive prop and save a few quid.

Oh [ialright[/i maybe I was pushing the point a little, and maybe thats going from Tiffany's to Poundland but I stand by the point.

And I bet either of them would have beaten Mr Roberts clean break ratio by now, but then who hasn't?

Which shop did we get Hiku from? I'd be rushing back before they're sold out!

Not for me. Talented player, always looked like he picked up knock when tackled. Thought his attitude was disgusting for saints once he had signed for bath. Basicly stopped playing for saints. Just about went through the motions for them.

Exactly

Hardly played in 2 years, hardly scored any tries and hasn’t played League in years. Those are facts not a “what ifs”. It’s a gamble which if it is successful is against the odds (in my opinion). But it isn’t my money that’s being gambled!

You just contradicted yourself. It's either a 'what if gamble' or its not.

I'd rather keep Roberts, he will come good especially if he carries on from yesterday.

It could be Brown and not Roberts that he would replace.

One of us has clearly misunderstood the other.

Putting negativity aside, imagine how exciting it would be to watch an inform and injury free pairing of Roberts and Eastmond.

OK we'll settle on a tie.

A small player who's game is reliant on explosive speed who turns 30 next season with a history of injuries, and hasn't played the sport in 7 years.

No thanks.

My guess is, the club are looking for a headline signing and one to attract more punters. Who would you suggest we go for Quickening?

Not George Williams

Rather see the money spent on a transfer fee or a marquee NRL player. I think we have seen that average NRL backs can look very good in SL. Eastmond *could* turn out to be good after an adjustment period but IMO not nearly as much chance of that as if we get a decent proven player from the NRL or even a transfer of a SL player like Gale etc.

INOUT

That's a very good point. He's a big risk for me, then offsetting of money does make it a lesser risk to be fair.

Realistically is he likely to be better than Hiku was?

No question.
We played 3 SL teams worse than us and 4 from a division lower. The whole shatty team looked good through that period.
Hiku was great for us...don't get me wrong here....but he wasn't tested under top conditions.

I disagree RD, Hiku was head and shoulders above the rest of his team mates and dragged them up a level.

I don't disagree with that... but you must add Savelio and Pomeroy to that mix too. Hiku would have made little difference without them.

My points was only that Eastmond is/was better player than Hiku. Hiku wasn't playing big games for us...we were playing the likes of Halifax London etc

If Eastmond had stayed in RL and been an England regular it would be easy to judge him against Hiku.

Hiku is a current NZ international, a lot younger and shows clear class (he did play against some teams at a higher level e.g. Wigan). We don’t know whether Eastmond will make a decent RL player again. History suggests not, but there are some exceptions to the rule.