Eastwood desperate to mark short Rhinos stay with success
The hulking Kiwi, 23, hopes to reprise his game-turning performance against Wigan tomorrow and earn the champions a place in next week's Grand Final.
That would be the perfect send-off for a player who will then return to the NRL, cutting short his stay in England after admittedly suffering from homesickness during his injury-plagued debut season.
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Hide AdEastwood, who featured in the bitter Challenge Cup final loss against Warrington last month, is set to re-join Canterbury Bulldogs but admits he would possibly entertain ideas of returning to Headingley when he has grown into a family man.
"When we lost at Wembley I thought 'I don't want to go out this way'," he said.
"I wanted to come back and try win another one of those cups.I'm still young, I'm still learning but hopefully, if I get settled, find a partner and have kids I could come back in a few years."
Leeds supporters would certainly welcome the sight of Eastwood in their colours again, already saddened his explosive skills will not be around in 2011.
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Hide AdAlthough the robust second-row took time to make his presence felt, he has undoubtedly produced some true quality, not least in the compelling 27-26 play-off victory at Wigan almost two weeks ago. Eastwood's impact off the bench was instant as he continually tore into the home side's defence.
"We were 14-0 down and I just wanted to try and spark something," he recalled, ahead of tomorrow's eagerly-awaited re-match at Headingley.
"I tried a few things, fortunately they came off and we came up with the victory."
Playing as a makeshift prop in the absence of crocked Jamie Peacock and Luke Burgess, the World Cup winner has impressed with his ability to use brawn and brain in the middle.
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Hide AdBearing the graphic scar of a major head wound inflicted by his own Rhinos team-mate Kylie Leuluai during training, Eastwood should hold little fear of the Wigan forwards. But he knows the League Leaders are capable of ending the one dream he is desperate to realise.
"You want to win championships," he said. "We've come so far with all the injuries we've had this year and we don't want to fall away now. I'd love to win the Super League title before I go back but we're down to the best four teams in the comp and they'll come out firing."