Re: Kyle Eastmond : Thu Nov 13, 2014 3:33 pm  

Eastmond showed better passing and kicking ability than Long did at the same age. Though given his injury record at the time, it's understandable that the club didn't give him a big contract.

In reality, we backed the wrong horses in Wheeler and Smith.

Re: Kyle Eastmond : Thu Nov 13, 2014 4:01 pm  

Billinge_Lump wrote:

Eastmond showed better passing and kicking ability than Long did at the same age. Though given his injury record at the time, it's understandable that the club didn't give him a big contract.

In reality, we backed the wrong horses in Wheeler and Smith.

I think we did offer Eastmond a substantial contract. We were just never going to be able to match Bath.

Re: Kyle Eastmond : Thu Nov 13, 2014 4:12 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Couldn't disagree more. Had a good kicking and looked very assured at 1st receiver. No problems bossing people around - had the ego that a half needs.

People just don't seem to BELIEVE that a player can be quick AND an organiser.

Those people clearly never saw Sean Long a few years back.

Re: Kyle Eastmond : Thu Nov 13, 2014 6:10 pm  

I'm sticking to my guns with this one Matty Smith is playing for one of the strongest clubs in SL and is representing his country. Imo the club did not recognise his potential & let a quality scrum half leave. We struggled from then on without a quality half back for years until we eventually signed Walsh. Granted, Eastmond could be a match winner but was frustrating at times, opting to go alone instead of distributing the ball, especially near the line. I felt at the time we were quite boring and predictable on the attack, especially near the try line. I appreciate nobody is going to agree with what I've said here.

Someone questioned Smith's performances for England but I thought he'd played well personally. With a better hooker, he might have got better ball.

Re: Kyle Eastmond : Thu Nov 13, 2014 7:00 pm  

Twentyman wrote:

I'm sticking to my guns with this one Matty Smith is playing for one of the strongest clubs in SL and is representing his country. Imo the club did not recognise his potential & let a quality scrum half leave. We struggled from then on without a quality half back for years until we eventually signed Walsh. Granted, Eastmond could be a match winner but was frustrating at times, opting to go alone instead of distributing the ball, especially near the line. I felt at the time we were quite boring and predictable on the attack, especially near the try line. I appreciate nobody is going to agree with what I've said here.

Someone questioned Smith's performances for England but I thought he'd played well personally. With a better hooker, he might have got better ball.

Almost nobody.....

Re: Kyle Eastmond : Thu Nov 13, 2014 7:25 pm  

Billinge_Lump wrote:

Eastmond showed better passing and kicking ability than Long did at the same age. Though given his injury record at the time, it's understandable that the club didn't give him a big contract.

In reality, we backed the wrong horses in Wheeler and Smith.

When he was young at Wigan Longy was an immense prospect but got set back by a bad knee injury , his behavior sealed his exit from Wigan rather than lack of talent. Eastmond showed immense promise but really went backwards in his last year at Saints, mainly I suspect because of attitude. At the end of the day he followed the money which is fair enough, it's a short career and Rugby players arnt on footballer salaries but his attitude and performances in that last season stank the place out.

Re: Kyle Eastmond : Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:19 pm  

http://youtu.be/LtQWS2VrpqM Eastmond gives a pass on this at 8:50 that Smith still couldn't throw now. This was his first game against Australia at the age of 20. Smith isn't fit to lace Eastmond's boots. Never has been.

http://youtu.be/LtQWS2VrpqM Eastmond gives a pass on this at 8:50 that Smith still couldn't throw now. This was his first game against Australia at the age of 20. Smith isn't fit to lace Eastmond's boots. Never has been.

Re: Kyle Eastmond : Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:57 pm  

SLS wrote:

http://youtu.be/LtQWS2VrpqM

Eastmond gives a pass on this at 8:50 that Smith still couldn't throw now. This was his first game against Australia at the age of 20.

Smith isn't fit to lace Eastmond's boots. Never has been.

It was a good pass, but cooke at hull used to do that pass week in week out

Re: Kyle Eastmond : Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:16 pm  

Eastmond is another level to smith. Simple as that

Re: Kyle Eastmond : Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:47 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

It was a good pass, but cooke at hull used to do that pass week in week out

Maybe, but does Matty Smith.