Bulldogs signing Greg Eastwood ready to play in round two
By Karl deKroo
March 19, 2009
Greg Eastwood has rubbished suggestions his weight has ballooned in the wake of his well-publicised visa issues and declared he would be ready to play his first game for the Bulldogs this weekend.
The New Zealand international has penned a three-year deal with the Bulldogs after his planned move to English Super League club Leeds was blocked by a British High Commission decision to deny him a visa because of a string of driving convictions.
Eastwood has long endured scrutiny over his weight and eating habits but said despite the fact he hasn't trained full-time since the end of last year's World Cup he would be ready to play against Penrith this weekend if coach Kevin Moore needed him.
"I've never been ready for 80 minutes," Eastwood joked when asked if he was in shape to play a whole match.
"It's up to the coach what they want to do and I'm ready if they're pretty happy with me.
"It's always difficult to say, but he (Moore) has had a bit of a talk to me, asked if I'm ready, and I said 'yeah, I've had a good beep test and I'm pretty fit', so we're just going to have to wait and see."
Part of the agreement with the Bulldogs would allow Eastwood to join Leeds in 2010 should an appeal over his visa problems prove successful.
Several NRL clubs were rumoured to be interested in signing Eastwood, including the Warriors.
Eastwood joins former Brisbane Broncos teammates Mick Ennis, Ben Hannant and David Stagg at the Bulldogs.
