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Eastwood seeks deal

Eastwood seeks deal

07/30/2010 02:56:16 AM

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Blockbusting Kiwi second-rower Greg Eastwood wants to return to the NRL and his agent has already fielded interest from a host of clubs.

The World Cup winning Kiwi signed with Super League champions Leeds last year and has since fallen desperately homesick. He now wants out of the final two years of his contract.

Leeds chairman Garry Hetherington has demanded a 100,000-pound transfer fee is paid by any club wanting to bring Eastwood back to the NRL.

Eastwood's agent, David Riolo, told Sportal signing the Auckland-born 23-year-old would not be a simple transaction.

"There's interest from a number of clubs in Australia because he's a New Zealand Test representative," Riolo said. "He's expressed a desire to come back to the NRL, so whether that interest can be transferred into an actual deal we'll have to work on, so watch this space."

Riolo refused to speculate about which clubs had contacted him.

Former New Zealand coach now player agent Frank Endacott has just returned from visiting Eastwood in England.

He noted the former Bronco and Bulldog star was not himself - he was missing his family.

"He [Eastwood] would be a major benefit to the Warriors or any other NRL club," Endacott said. "Greg Eastwood is a very, very talented player. I watched him play a couple of weeks ago in England and he was absolutely outstanding.

"When I saw him playing in the Super League he was doing the damage on the edge of the ruck, and man he was doing some damage."

Endacott admitted Leed's asking price was steep, and had come at an inopportune time for NRL clubs.

Hetherington was a fair, reasonable person but he was also a good businessman, Endacott said.

"In all honesty, because of the financial situation of a lot of the NRL clubs, I don't think they would be in a position to pay the asking price," he said.

The Warriors chased Eastwood's signature last year before he signed with the Doggies, but both chief executive Wayne Scurrah and recruitment manager Dean Bell said the club had moved on from that stage.

"Good luck to them. I'd be surprised if anyone's going to pay that kind of money," Bell said of the transfer fee.

"Obviously he's a good player that you would be interested in, but we've made some movements in the market already that have filled up that area."

Bell was referring to the Warriors' capture of Parramatta Eels lock Feleti Mateo.

Riolo said he and Eastwood were disappointed the stint in England had not worked out.

"Leeds is a great club, so it's a shame it hasn't worked out the way we wanted when he first went there, but it's going to be a great opportunity for some other player because there's limited import spots in the UK and Leeds were full. Now there is a spot available if the terms can all be agreed."

Eastwood is currently sidelined with a leg injury, his second long-term absence of the season.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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