Re: busy off season : Mon Jul 25, 2011 2:21 pm  

CrusadersOgie wrote:

Thank you for moving this thread on to the subject of licensing. We will all know the answer tomorrow. I personally believe we should expand to 16 but I don't think that will happen. But I would like to get this thread back on topic
I think that unlike last year this year we have managed to do a lot of the preparation for next year already as things stand at the moment and if all we have been told is true looks like this
1 Tansey
2 Youngquest He went last year
3 Thomas
4 Mellars
5 Readon
6 Hambury
7 Witt
8 Moore
9 White
10 McPherson
11 Manu Highly doubt that he will leave Hull
12 Warburton
13 Winterstein
14 Kear
15 Senior
16 Williams I think Turkey is leaving next year
17 George Griffin
18 Sammut (still has a year left on his contract and told me he was staying)
19 Darell Griffin
20 Morrison
22 Flower
23 Jordan James
24 Lupton (Still has 2 year on his contract)
25 Bracek
26 Aled James (from what Iestyn has said I think they will offer him a contract)
27 Dudson
28 Johnson
on joint contracts with Scorpions
29 Grant
30 Chris Davies
31 Burke

I believe this is a very good squad. I would like to see a good half back and bring in a backup hooker (bring back Tommy Lee maybe). This is still the area were we have no in depth strength.

Re: busy off season : Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:08 pm  

"If Crusaders do keep their licence surely it would be the perfect time to blood the young Welsh lads. How many at the club do you think are good enough for Super League?"
Flower has played all year this year and has been solid.
Keer is on the edge of the team. Although his strongest position is fullback he has had a a few games for us on the wing this season and has done really well. I expect him to be Wales fullback in the 4 nations.
White has been on the edge of the team for two year and is getting better and better. I would pick him over Sammut any day.
Dudson has played a few games for us this season and hasn't let himself down but he needs a year out on loan in the Championship to bring him on. This season our squad has been so depleted that we have had to play him.
Williams has had very few opportunities to shine at centre this year but when he has played he has done well. I can see him playing more next season with Senior and Thomas being in the squad I can see some injury problems at some stage.
I can't tell you too much about the scorpions boys but 2 of them did play against Hull KR and did well in very difficult circumstances.
We have 2 possibly 3 (Aled James) more Welsh players in the squad and Warbuton who is coming over from the Bulldogs in the NRL is a Welsh qualifier. So there will be a big welsh presence in the team next year with 11 players in the squad and 4 or 5 playing regularly in the team.

Re: busy off season : Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:42 pm  

Crufan 94

Youngquest coming back and Manu both come from a very good source. I don't know what the latest is on Turkey resigning I will try to find out tomorrow.

Re: busy off season : Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:19 pm  

CrusadersOgie wrote:

"If Crusaders do keep their licence surely it would be the perfect time to blood the young Welsh lads. How many at the club do you think are good enough for Super League?"
Flower has played all year this year and has been solid.
Keer is on the edge of the team. Although his strongest position is fullback he has had a a few games for us on the wing this season and has done really well. I expect him to be Wales fullback in the 4 nations.
White has been on the edge of the team for two year and is getting better and better. I would pick him over Sammut any day.
Dudson has played a few games for us this season and hasn't let himself down but he needs a year out on loan in the Championship to bring him on. This season our squad has been so depleted that we have had to play him.
Williams has had very few opportunities to shine at centre this year but when he has played he has done well. I can see him playing more next season with Senior and Thomas being in the squad I can see some injury problems at some stage.
I can't tell you too much about the scorpions boys but 2 of them did play against Hull KR and did well in very difficult circumstances.
We have 2 possibly 3 (Aled James) more Welsh players in the squad and Warbuton who is coming over from the Bulldogs in the NRL is a Welsh qualifier. So there will be a big welsh presence in the team next year with 11 players in the squad and 4 or 5 playing regularly in the team.

If true, that is looking very positive for next season.

Many are doubting our recruitment for next season, but I think we've done well. Signed a few older and experienced, but also some good young Welsh/British prospects. Players like Keith Senior will really help the younger lads in the team. Possibly lead to coaching at the Crusaders too ?

If we're going to have 11 Welsh players or players who qualify as Welsh in the squad next season, that is very good going. Seems as we're a club that haven't been going for that long too. Last season we were full of over-seas players, but this season has been an improvement with the signings of Reardon, Johnson, Moore etc.

Lets hope for some good news tomorrow, not just for the future of Crusaders, but for Welsh Rugby League too.

Re: busy off season : Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:47 pm  

CrusadersOgie wrote:

Crufan 94

Youngquest coming back and Manu both come from a very good source. I don't know what the latest is on Turkey resigning I will try to find out tomorrow.

Manu is contract to Hull till 2012. Lauaki is the only member of Hull's Tongan Mafia that is out of contract.
No way will Youngquest be back.

Re: busy off season : Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:26 pm  

boost wrote:

Manu is contract to Hull till 2012. Lauaki is the only member of Hull's Tongan Mafia that is out of contract.
No way will Youngquest be back.

Don't forget that Hull now have a new owner and the supporters seem to be hoping for a new coach as well, which might alter things a bit, although we'd probably have to pay off the last year of Manu's contract.

Re: busy off season : Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:26 pm  

The Chronicler of Chiswic wrote:

Don't forget that Hull now have a new owner and the supporters seem to be hoping for a new coach as well, which might alter things a bit, although we'd probably have to pay off the last year of Manu's contract.

Most Hull fans would include Manu as one of the top five players at the club. Why would Hull want to get rid of him while he's still under contact?

Re: busy off season : Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:35 am  

It is what I have been told we'll have to wait and see. I am wondering if it's possible that Sammut is going to Hull?

Re: busy off season : Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:29 am  

CrusadersOgie wrote:

It is what I have been told we'll have to wait and see. I am wondering if it's possible that Sammut is going to Hull?

Anything is possible, but and I'm pretty sure the majority of Hull fans wil be well cheesed off if Manu is goes!

Re: busy off season : Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:02 am  

boost wrote:

Anything is possible, but and I'm pretty sure the majority of Hull fans wil be well cheesed off if Manu is goes!

Crusaders might start paying the players wages?