Well you've seen a lot more of him than I have so I'll take your word for it. Still wouldn't do it, has he ever played full back for Saints? If he has it can't be many games and it can't have been that impressive as he didn't displace Wellens.

He's a young lad in his first big game in a poor side, no way should we play him at full back, probably the most pressured position there is. It's bad enough that I'm suggesting playing him at centre where there's less pressure and he's played more games.

Add to that I don't think Briscoe was as bad at full back as folk are making out, I don't really remember what he did wrong to be honest.

I also appologise yeah i ment the DW stadium

Tbh i think Eastmond would be a revelation at fullback over here, we focus far too much on 'good under a high ball' and 'solid in defence' as the biggest attributes - Eastmond has really started to develop his defence, and he'd add so much attacking flair from FB (he's the type of player the NRL look at for FB), and tbh when you've got the level of talent that Kyle has you can work on the technical areas (tackling technique and ball catching). What you can't do is take a solid defender and coach the pace explosivness and flair into him.

But to be fair rogues that's one of the critical things you need to do tackling at fullback - get your body under the ball, just look at the way slater tackles. Far too often i see fullbacks putting a tackle in and the player either getting an offload or still managing to ground the ball even with the fullback on him.

What he did wrong for me was be a total non entity going forwards - now it's probably just a bad performance from him as he's a good player.

I'm not saying Eastmond at FB is the answer right now, but you've got to admit it has it's merits for the future. Centre I think he'll go well to, I just think FB would give him the freedom in attack

Matty Bowen carved out a good career for himself, Eastmond could be as effective as he was. It's time we stopped pigeon-holing kids into positions based on their size and placed in a position where their skills can be nurtured and put to good effect.

Accepted.
Maybe I worded it as though it looked as though I was having a go at him, but I was trying to point out the good work the other two tacklers did and got no recognition.

I've been singing Eastmonds praises for four years now, and would certainly be disappointed if he is lost to our game.

You're right mate he didn't do it on his own, and I know you've been a big proponent of his for a long time, like you have been with the other young lads.

This for me is one of the single biggest steps we need to do to take the game forward over here.

It's laughable saying 'he looks like a prop', 'he's a big lad lets move him from centre to second row', 'he looks like a half back' I've actually seen it happen at junior level, i've seen some bigger lads who were far more skillful moved into the forwards just to accomodate a smaller lad who 'looks like back', and then they proceed to coach all the skill and flair out of all of the lads and turn it into a who's got the biggest kids wins affair.

Eastmond at fullback would be very exciting imo, he would get plenty of chance to attack the opposition line. Eventually i would see him at 7 but at the minute i would play him at fullback running at a broken defensive line.

Fullback has become a pivotal position in a teams attack, hence Wellens no longer being an international. Leon Pryce should have been a full back but has been molly coddled and has been played where he wants, i hope the same doesnt happen with Eastmond.

Tomkins would go well at fullback aswell as a way of getting him into the team. He's had a few little cameo spells there for us this year and he defends like a 2nd fullback at times.

I'd rather see him start at 6, 7 or even on the bench but it'd be better then nothing. Alot of world class halfbacks have started their international careers either at fullback or centre and this could be the case for Eastmond and Tomkins.

If we had Tomkins at fb and Eastmond at centre we'd at least be a huge threat with the ball.

Briscoe
Briscoe
Smith
Shenton
Hall
Tomkins
Myler
Peacock
Roby
Morley
Ellis
Burgess
Sinfield

Eastmond
Graham
Carvell
Westwood


Outside of the 24 man squad

Briscoe
Eastmond
Smith
Senior
Hall
Tomkins
Myler
Peacock
Roby
Morley
Ellis
Burgess
Sinfield

McGuire
Graham
Carvell
Westwood

Your picking Westwood over O'loughlin in the back row? I am glad you are not England coach and i cant stand Tony Smith

Why would he select an injured player?

I was more refaring to the 2nd team. I took it that that would be his team with everyone available. Still id take JJB over Westood if Locky doesnt count

Darren Lockyer springs to mind



Tomkins is better though.

Lockyer, Edwards(did he start his GB career as a fb?), Schofield, Hanley, Daley etc.

All of these started out at fullback or centre iirc.

Robinson started at half -back and ended up as a great rapid winger.

Eastmond?

I think Eastmond will be a long term 7 tbh. I've been quite impressed at times with his game at 7 and even though some have questioned his ability to run a game from that position i reckon he's got the skills needed.

He needs to gain experience and confidence in that position but it's understandable that he's made mistake due to him being so young. We've seen Tomkins make a few errors at times for the same reason. His decision making needs abit of work but again like Eastmond that will come in time.

It's good that they've got the ability to play in other positions though.

I think he could be a good 7 but only with a great organiser (like Myler for example

) who can run the show while he runs accross the line and creates breaks.

He would of been great with Barrett or Lam really.

I really hope if we are looking for a half back in the next few years though we sign Ratchford. He can really organise, has a great kicking game and has the skills to go with it. IMO he is more of an all round player than Eastmond or Myler.

Thats the exact reason... all the players selected could currently play

Myler can sure steer the big ship around



I'll never get that comment from Smith. He's just as much if not more or an individual player then Tomkins or Eastmond.

ps i'm not trying to turn this into another Tomkins vs Myler debate. They both should be in the 17 for Saturday.

Then you can add Kenny, Daley and Fittler to that list.

Me neither, thats why he was in the team yet he did not even say a word



I agree, I think all 3 should be in the team with Moore being dropped and McGuire to hooker.

He's on my list



What a player Laurie Daley was.