Greg Eastwood says he never considered leaving Canterbury, re-signing with the NRL club for three more years on Wednesday.

The hard-running back-rower said he received an approach from rival club Newcastle but was happy to pledge his future to the Bulldogs.

“I’m happy to have sorted my future out,” Eastwood said.

“The Bulldogs brought me back from England and when my contract was up I didn’t want to go anywhere else. I told them that and I’m happy with the way it has turned out.

“Belmore has a special place in my heart.”

The 26-year-old Eastwood was linked to a move to the Knights but said he hoped he would play out the remainder of his career at Belmore.

“I admit there was approaches from Newcastle, from Wayne Bennett. But the Bulldogs was always my first priority and it is just good to get that commitment for another three years. Hopefully I can keep playing well and get that extension again in a few years’ time,” Eastwood said.

The Bulldogs have been boosted by the return of James Graham from his biting suspension ahead of Friday night’s round eight match against the injury-depleted Wests Tigers.

And Eastwood said confidence is returning to the `Dogs after they managed just their second win of the season last weekend over Cronulla.

“It’s been a bit of a poor start to the year but the confidence was there we just weren’t getting the wins. So we needed to got out and show what we could do against a good team,” Eastwood said.

“Our defence was good and we are getting our attack right so there is a lot of confidence to come out of it.

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler said Sam Kasiano is unlikely to join fellow prop Graham in a return on Friday.

Hasler said Kasiano, who is has not played this year due to a leg injury, was still at least a week away from a comeback.