OLDHAM-BORN Kyle Eastmond could make his Leeds debut against his old club in Saturday’s Betfred Challenge Cup third-round tie at St Helens.
The 31-year-old dual-code international, who has joined the Rhinos on a two-year contract, was left out of their opening two Super League games to give him more time to readjust to his new surroundings.
Leeds coach Richard Agar was keeping his team selection close to his chest during a joint press conference yesterday afternoon, but hinted that Eastmond is ready to play.
“I would have no problems putting him in,” Agar said. “We’ll have a look at the state of our team later in the week and make some calls.”
Former Oldham St Annes player Eastmond spent the first four years of his professional career with Saints and scored all their points in their 18-10 defeat by Leeds in the 2009 Grand Final at Old Trafford before moving into rugby union two years later, where he played for Bath, Wasps, Leicester and England.
Elsewhere, another Oldham rugby league star in Joe Greenwood has been hit with a ban.
The former Saddleworth Rangers youngster, now with Huddersfield Giants, has been suspended for the next three games after a high tackle in Saturday’s Super League loss to Catalans Dragons.
The forward joined the Giants back in December.
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