New beginning...

By Aaron,
November 15 2009

Aaron's second column is an excellent and emotional piece looking at the state of the club as we prepare for the second season in Super League. After the euphoria of appointing a new top-draw management team, Saders fans have been growing increasingly pessimistic in recent weeks, and our columnist sums up why…..

A recurring theme on Crusaders forums in recent days has been the thought that the newly rebranded ‘Crusaders' are trying to run before we can walk. It's easy to see why. In just four years we have grown from a semi-pro team trying to fill a void left by Rugby Union to Wales' first, and only, Super League representatives. The transition has, at times, been hugely difficult.

Since the beginning of our first season in Super League, we have encountered problem after problem. First we couldn't get our players into the country, we couldn't get a pre-season fixture, then we couldn't get our first win, crowds started to suffer, and then it came full-circle with players being deported over visa irregularities. As if that wasn't enough; thirteen first team players spent at least a month out of action, there were rumours of financial problems, we had a new Chief Executive, and come the end of the season, Head Coach John Dixon was sacked.

Was Dixon a lame duck? Had Mike Turner already made the decision to actively seek a new coach as soon as he came in? Maybe we'll never know, but the whispers from inside the club suggest that Turner's focus ever since he joined the club has always been the upcoming 2010 season.

So, now is the time to make it happen. A plethora of Super League quality players are needed, and quickly. Pre-season training starts in the final week of November, and with only two weeks to go we have twelve players signed up and ready to go; three of whom are coming off long-term injuries (Peek, Dyer & Lupton), and six who have been involved in tough international schedules this Autumn (Chan, Blackwood, Kear, Mills, Flower & Jordan James). The rumours have ranged from Clint Greenshields and Travis Burns to Nick Youngquest and Jamie Rooney in terms of quality, and the truth is, nobody really knows who is joining; not until the club actually announces something.

The appointment of Brian Noble (something I will do a separate piece on soon!), Jon Sharp and Iestyn Harris as the new coaching team is nothing but encouraging, but they can't work miracles. They need the players to coach and put out on the field. The performances of our Welsh youngsters in the recent rugbyleague.com European Cup were all very encouraging, but we cannot rely on youth when it comes to Super League.

There are other aspects which don't seem quite right too. For example, the on-the-road games; apparently set for Wrexham's Racecourse and Neath's much-maligned Gnoll, which MUST be a success. If the team is failing on the pitch, the management will be absurd to think that the crowds for a one-off game will be any bigger than those at our new home in Newport. Expanding to new areas has to be a long-term goal, but two games in North Wales in only our second season in the big time could just be a step too far.

I'll try not to be as negative as this normally, and my ‘rants' will definitely become more regular soon enough, but it does seem that the club still has too many elements of amateurism, and shoddy management, engrained within it. The club is stepping into the unknown in too many areas, and this really isn't something we can afford to do. It begs many questions. Mike Turner? Rodney Parade? Crusaders RL? They all just leave a pretty sour taste in the mouth at the moment.

I hope I'm wrong.

Ron's Rant II: Running before we can walk?

Discussion started by CruXIII (IP Logged), 15/11/2009 23:49

CruXIII
15/11/2009 23:49

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Bridgend_Dan
16/11/2009 11:52

Really good read and sums up the club at the moment.

Everything going around is based on rumour, but you’ve got to wonder why no player has been signed yet?

What is going on???

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Rogero
17/11/2009 17:16

I feel the main reason no players have been signed is that all the decent one's looking for moves are all now settled. These deals were done long before Brian Noble's appointment was confirmed.

We need a good start otherwise Rodney parade will be a happy hunting ground for away team like Bridgend was last season - apart from Wigan and Salford of course!! LOL

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