Canterbury forward Greg Eastwood yet to receive green light for 2018 following serious heart scare
CANTERBURY forward Greg Eastwood is yet to receive approval to play this season following a serious heart scare that has restricted him to light duties.
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CANTERBURY forward Greg Eastwood is yet to receive approval to play this season following a serious heart scare that has restricted him to light duties.
Bulldogs officials confirmed Eastwood hadn’t been given the green light for 2018 and will be monitored after he underwent surgery to correct an abnormal heart rate, which occurred while he was driving to training prior to Christmas.
The heart episode also forced the New Zealand international to momentarily go blind while driving.
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After completing successful surgery, Eastwood received the all-clear to return to light duties at the Bulldogs in late December.
He has since resumed training to prepare for this season, but he is currently relegated to gym and cardio work only.
The Bulldogs want to take a cautious approach with the former Test star and slowly rebuild his fitness before contemplating a comeback to full-contact training and playing.
This places a cloud over Eastwood’s hopes of continuing his career into a 13th season.
Despite the challenges, the former Brisbane Broncos and Leeds Rhinos forward remains optimistic about his future in the game.
“I definitely want to continue my career,” Eastwood told The Daily Telegraph late last year.
“I’m only 30 and I’ve still got a bit to offer so that is what I’ll be pushing for.
“I’ll build up with a bit of cardio for the next couple of weeks and then I’ll see the doctor again after Christmas and hopefully he gives me the all-clear.
“But anything to do with the heart is pretty scary — you need it to live.
“The club have been really good though. They have made sure I’ve looked after my health before footy and whatever I need to do they let me do it. That has been greatly appreciated.”
Eastwood, contracted at Canterbury until the end of 2018, is also motivated to recover from his heart scare so he can work alongside new Bulldogs coach Dean Pay.
“Dean has been great — all the boys love him,” he said. “He has sat everyone down individually and told them what he wants.
“We are training really hard, but Dean has been fair with a couple of days off here and there.
“He is good to communicate with. He said if you have problems to come and be honest with him and the boys are enjoying that.
“Now I hope I can repay Dean by getting on the field.”