www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... tlead.html Quote As a developing club, the Crusaders will be allowed to sign up to 14 overseas players in 2010 and Noble confirmed he is almost certain to fill the quota. "There is no other way we can get a team out on the field unless we do," he said. "If you look at the availability of domestic players, it's absolutely non-existent. "The reality for us is that we've got to go overseas initially and develop the talent that is here in Wales. "It's a race against time in many respects but the whole of the rugby league should support this 100%. The more Welsh players that come into the mix, the better it is for Super League. We need to spread the word. "It's fabulously exciting. We know we need to be reasonably competitive this year. We're going to have to overcome a few hurdles but I'm absolutely thrilled that this has come off."'" An honest assessment from Noble. I was trying to think of British based players who may be available and the list was fairly short.

www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... tlead.html Quote As a developing club, the Crusaders will be allowed to sign up to 14 overseas players in 2010 and Noble confirmed he is almost certain to fill the quota. "There is no other way we can get a team out on the field unless we do," he said. "If you look at the availability of domestic players, it's absolutely non-existent. "The reality for us is that we've got to go overseas initially and develop the talent that is here in Wales. "It's a race against time in many respects but the whole of the rugby league should support this 100%. The more Welsh players that come into the mix, the better it is for Super League. We need to spread the word. "It's fabulously exciting. We know we need to be reasonably competitive this year. We're going to have to overcome a few hurdles but I'm absolutely thrilled that this has come off."'" An honest assessment from Noble. I was trying to think of British based players who may be available and the list was fairly short.

we didnt see that one coming!


hope they have visas!

14 overseas players



What a complete and utter joke our game is. They can't be relegated so whats the panic. When the 3 years is up they will just fold anyway. Just diverting money from RL to football too, wonder how many RL chairman agree with that one.

On the subject of English players available, just sign most of the Fax squad they seem to think they are good enough

of the 4/5 that Noble mentions, i reckon both Paul Johnson and Paul King would have been in there. Not sure who else has moved clubs post season, maybe Danny Sculthorpe?

Considering Bridgend & Newport were such bad places for the set up it beggars belief that the Wrexham move wasn't sorted months back!

Last season Visa issues halted Cru's pre season and now 6 weeks before the season, 2 weeks before pre season games start they are just starting recruiting! No matter how good a squad get together will take two months to get going as a team!

you couldn't write it, J20

Oh you could, but only in the anals of red hall......did I spell that right

With the club having relocated to save it's future this week and the season being so close with no Super League quality players available of British origin does anybody have any better ideas for the club to be competitive in Super League.

I thought the whole point of the welsh franchise was develope the pool of welsh players. You are a development team and therefore so long as the welsh talent pool is being developed do you need to be hugely competitive?

What was last years team then. It was not competitive and it was not full of welsh players

Thackray, Bryne, Raynor (HULL), Martin, Stosic, Petersen (WAKEFIELD), Rauhihi (WARRINGTON), Stacul, Bentley (CATALANS), Fuimina (CASTLEFORD), Alker, White (SALFORD), Walsh, Lawson (HUDDERSFIELD), Graves (HARLEQUINS) are the only released players in super league left.

However, Sporting Life mentioned a few week back when you found out that Michael Witt had signed that also thought to have signed Tony Martin and Gateshead Thunder full-back Nick Youngquest.

Out of those listed Frostie think Thacks, Raynor (though a pending court case), Stosic and White would be the only one's available / worth going for!

Can't see Fauimuina coming back to SL again, and he has some real issues! Byrne & Rauhihi retired. Marlon Alker, Hudds lads and Gravees unlikley to be better quality then Welsh lads on boad and also be alot more expensive! Think the French lads are staying in France as there domestic gae certainly seems to be growing better now!

White not great but versatile and knows the league, Martin is a good solid SL , Raynor is pure quality, but question marks on his release surely! Ans Stosic could be great could be avaerage but at this late stage certainly worth a punt! Thackery, well you know what you get and would add spice to any SL pack! With Younquest they'd all be good additions to a squad no doubt about that!

6 players with a history of having the wrong visa,s

His full name is Nick F-ing Youngquest. From LER to SL in two years ...

What's happened to all the Welsh players?

Youngquest played for Gateshead last year. Looked bloody awful when he played at Fev!! Didn't rate him even at that level.

He had 2 decent games against us last year , although he does seem to have a bit of an ' attitude '

Played well against us as well, though didn't look like playing below his level at all.

I think the fuzz would love to know where he is, as he is currently on the run and will never come back to this country as he is facing a stretch.

People are saying having celtic in superleague is good for the welsh game then they fill their squad with aussies no-one else wants!!! its disgraceful and you should be kicked out of superleague

watched him on a number of times seems a really good player in my opinion, him and winterstein seem good aqusitions (spelling not sure lol) could see raynor,stosic and white maybe thackary joining them down there alker is he not the assistant at salford now?

I guess it is better if they fill the side with second rate GB players than second rate Ozzies. Still, I'd rather see them play some Welsh academy players, even if it means they lose as many games as last year.

If that happens then the whole shebang will fold , they need to be competitive to draw fans from the heartland clubs , if the games are a foregone conclusion less will bother going

Malcolm Alker is still a player at Salford. Marlon Alker has been released.

Noble should be looking to take 2 or 3 players from top clubs reserve grades on season long loans or even 2- 3 month deals.

Brian McDermott has done great with this over the years.

There are players like darryl goulding, Karl Pryce and liam farrell who would be good additions on 3 month loan deals.

Aint hard to play well against Widnes

If you signed Stosic he would be the best prop at your club by far. Great hard working prop. Think Winterstein will really develop too, showed a couple of flashes of what he was capable of at Wakey but mainly due to injuries didn't get a good run in the team, will be interesting to see how he goes. In Martin you've got a very astute experienced player who is a model professional. Still think you will struggle but you should go better than last season.