RLFANS.COM - The World's Most Popular Rugby League Website

Quote: Crusaders RL "What a few month's can do to a club! Crusaders have seen a lot of changes since 2009 as they prepare for Super League with a new name, a new home ground, a new town, a new head coach and new players.

The club announced it was to be known as "Crusaders RL" from 2010 and would play its home games in Newport, South Wales. It all seemed to be looking good for the club after a disasterous 2009 season.

Things seemed to be picking up for those in South Wales as former Bradford Bulls, Great Britain and Wigan Warriors coach Brian Noble was appointed as Head Coach after the Visa problems of 2009. Noble is a man of experience, something Crusaders lacked at times in 2009.

It then went pear shaped. The move to Newport was cancelled and then the club announced its intentions to move to North Wales and into the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham much to the annoyance of many Rugby League fans. Many saw Crusdaers as a expansion side and just as local Welsh born players began breaking into the first team, the clubs ups sticks and moves to Wrexham just 30 miles away from teams like Widnes, in the heartlands of the game.

Onto 2010 and Brian Noble has had a hard time assembling a team in such short notice but he has seemingly managed to do so. The marquee signings have to be those of Gareth Raynor and Jamie Thackray. Both have played for Great Britain and have played at the highest level. Raynor, 31, is a speedy winger who knows his way to the try-line. Raynor's pace may also be a positive as he has been known to score some long distance tries which can only help the Welshmen as they try and better 14th in 2009. Thackray, 30, has seen his career nose dive since joing Leeds in 2006. Hull FC rescued him from his Rhinos nightmare where he went on to make another 29 appearances in Airlie Birds' colours to take his total up to 93 for the Black & Whites. Thackray's finest moment was arguably the 2005 season when he appeared in Hull FC's Challenge Cup triumph over Leeds in Cardiff as well as making three appearances in Great Britain colours in the same year.

It's going to be another tough year for Crusaders on the pitch but they will be hoping they can keep the support of the Wrexham public as they are expecting a record-breaking attendance for the Leeds Rhinos game on the 29th January.

As I mentioned 2010 is going to be another hard year for the Crusaders. They have a small squad (as I write) and a few injuries will leave them down to the bare bones.

Prediction

rlhttps://z12.invisionfree.com/rugbyleaguetoday/index.php?showtopic

Best of luck in 2010