Mason linked to Crusaders

[winnyason]

they are going to be competitive than lst year thackery and mellars.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

In my opinion the last four signings for the Crusaders have been absolutely terrible, i want to see Crusaders and Wales RL as strong and successful as anybody but if that is the quality of their signings then they will finish a distant last again.

Nick Youngquest - has a bit of speed but nothing else, rejected by 4 or 5 NRL clubs.
Frank Winterstein - plenty of potential but yet to prove anything more than a reserve grader.
Tony Martin - should have retired three years ago, no size, no speed.
Michael Witt - has some ability but too inconsistent and a year in Union won't have helped.

While you are right about the quality of signings, i do think this will put them in a better position than this time last year. At least most of the players they are signing have played a decent amount of NRL. Where as you look at the bulk of the squad last year, it was mainly players that were of QLD Cup standard.

Add the spice of some Welsh players and Noble as coach, i can see them wining at least double the matches they did last year.

Nick Youngquest - 36 NRL matches 16 trys
Frank Winterstein - 5 NRL matches, 3 SL
Tony Martin - 122 NRL matches 33 trys, 137 SL matches 41 trys
Michael Witt - 90 NRL matches 23 trys
Vince Mellars - 24 NRL matches 6 trys
Jamie Thackray - 191 SL matches 22 trys
Tommy Lee - 49 SL matches 4 trys
Rocky Trimarchi - 8 NRL matches 1 try
Rhys Hanbury - 21 NRL matches 4 trys
Weller Hauraki - 31 NRL matches 4 trys

 

[Jankuloski]

It worries me that they still do not have 20 players on and the fact that Brian Noble is not training them at the moment. There was a report on SLTV from their camp and Noble wasn't in it.

 

[Evil Homer]

They have 23 players, and assuming Hauraki and Hanbury sign(which they will) that makes a reasonably competent squad of 20 experienced first graders and five juniors with first grade experience.

Noble will not be doing much of the training this season. His role is more of an overseer. Jon Sharp is a very good coach and along with Harris they will be fine on that front. The team won't pull up any trees but will go a lot better than last season.

 

[Jankuloski]

I think we would all agree that evading the spoon would suffice.

It's 22 with Trimarchi according to: http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=16317
It was 18 about ten or so days ago.. I wish them all the best, that's why I'm worried for them..

 

[Evil Homer]

I don't think anyone expects anything more of them than that, they have put together a squad on a limited budget in a very limited timeframe, with the added problem of uncertainty about their future in December scuppering a lot of potential signings. This year should be more about establishing themselves in the new town and being more competitive on the field than making significant leaps, with a view to kicking on in 2011.

 

[Jankuloski]

They need something to justify not being relegated. A lot of people don't give a rats ass about growing the game and how important Crusaders are in the long term.

 

[jim_57]

They need something to justify not being relegated. A lot of people don't give a rats ass about growing the game and how important Crusaders are in the long term.

I think they might well do better than most people expect them too. Team looks alot better than last year IMO and I would be suprised to see them finish just outside the 8.

This is probably the first choice 17 at the moment.

1. Elliot Kear
2. Nick Youngquest
3. Tony Martin
4. Luke Dyer
5. Anthony Blackwood
6. Lloyd White
7. Michael Witt
8. Ryan O'Hara
9. Tommy Lee
10. Jamie Thackaray
11. Jason Chan
12. Ben Flower
13. Rocky Trimarchi
14. Lincoln Withers
15. Jordan James
16. Mark Bryant
17. Lewis Mills

Probably missing a few but that's off the top of my head.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Can't see any of the Welsh lads getting a run, except maybe Flower.

More likely:

1. Nick Youngquest
2. Vince Mellars
3. Tony Martin
4. Rhys Hanbury
5. Luke Dyer
6. Michael Witt
7. Lincoln Withers
8. Ryan O'Hara
9. Tommy Lee
10. Jamie Thackray
11. Weller Hauraki
12. Adam Peek
13. Rocky Trimarchi
14. Peter Lupton
15. Jordan James
16. Mark Bryant
17. Ben Flower

Hanbury and Hauraki haven't been announced but they have signed. Gareth Raynor is also strongly rumoured, although he is probably off to jail soon.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Not a terrible looking team, both of them. But barely up to SL standards, barely.

 

[JasonE]

Raynor has signed a short term deal, up until his court case.

My team now would be

1. Elliot Kear
2. Gareth Raynor
3. Tony Martin
4. Rhys Hanbury
5. Anthony Blackwood
6. Lloyd White
7. Michael Witt

8. Ryan O'Hara
9. Tommy Lee
10. Jordan James
11. Ben Flower
12. Mark Bryant
13. Peter Lupton

14. Jason Chan
15. Jamie Thackray
16. Adam Peek
17. Frank Winterstein

 

[Evil Homer]

None of those teams are accurate at all, they are all missing players that would clearly be first choice.

 

[winnyason]

Hey everyone is having a go put yours in here is mine

1. Elliot kear 2. Youngquest 3. Martin 4. Mellars 5. Raynor
6. Witt 7. Lee
13. Flower 12. Chan 11. Peek
10. Thackery 9. Withers 8 . O Hara
Bench: J.James, Hauraki, Byrant, White. Fringe: Winterstein,Trimarchi.

 

[wittyfan]

Witty will be at 6 imho.

 

[bender]

Well looking at all those possible sides, i think it actually looks like a decent competive team. Definitely more competive than what i expected and with not too bad depth either, particularly if some of the Welsh Super league players step up.

Is this the hardest ESL side to name a first choice side? So far, everyone has differed quite a bit in their teams. Off the players posted here is my list.

1 Kear 2 Raynor 3 Martin 4 Youngquest 5 Winterstein 6 Witt 7 Withers 13 Trimarchi 12 Chan 11 Peek 10 O Hara 9 Lee 8 Thackray.

 

[Evil Homer]

Is this the hardest ESL side to name a first choice side? So far, everyone has differed quite a bit in their teams.

I think that is probably because people have decided to name a team without actually knowing the squad/properly knowing the players

 

[East Coast Tiger]

So what is the best/likely 17 then?

 

[Evil Homer]

I would expect:

1.Youngquest
2.Dyer
3.Martin
4.Mellars
5.Raynor
6.Witt
7.Hanbury
8.O'Hara
9.Withers
10.Bryant
11.Chan
12.Hauraki
13.Lupton

14.Peek
15.James
16.Lee
17.Thackray

Squad members:
Trimarchi
Winterstein
Blackwood
Flower
White
Kear
Mills
Dudson

They are also in the market for a scrum half, in which case Hanbury would go to full back and Youngquest drop out. That's just my opinion anyway. You can compare it against the others in the squads thread at the top of the page.