Re: Crusaders reactions

OJ · Post by OJ » Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:10 pm

I can't help but think that if Crusaders voluntarily jumped ship then the RFL should still have gone ahead with their original plans to promote a team from the championship although I suppose in effect that would have meant promoting two teams to evict one and that was possibly a bridge too far. Feel sorry for Halifax and for the players and fans at Crusaders while Wakefield management must be cockahoop at being dealt the biggest get out of jail free card ever.

Just went on the Crusaders board to sympathise and was struck by two posts in particular. One was from a Wakefield supporter and was entitled 'The right thing' where he is congratulating them for saving Wakefield and the other was this gem (in fairness other Wire fans have apologised on his behalf)

WireWonder wrote:Thank god Crusaders have been dumped from SL. You brought nothing.

I for one was turning cartwheels when i heard you'd gone.

No fans. No history. No prospects. It was a farce you were admitted in the first place.

Bye bye and not before time.

Kittwazzer · Post by **Kittwazzer** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 3:45 pm

Last I heard, there was doubt about whether the players would be paid and whether they would fulfil their remaining fixtures.

This will have an impact on final top eight positions!

Post by **Mike** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:51 pm

Somebody work out what the league table looks like with all crusaders fixtures cancelled!

Kittwazzer · Post by **Kittwazzer** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:58 pm

Wire would lose 4 points, we would lose 2 and the final match of the season!

Post by **Mike** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 7:33 pm

Mike wrote:Somebody work out what the league table looks like with all crusaders fixtures cancelled!

Here is is:

Wigan 21 281 33
Warrington 20 399 30
Huddersfield 20 149 26
St Helens 20 161 25
Catalans 20 35 23
Castleford 20 -84 20
Hull 21 57 19
Leeds 20 26 19
Salford 20 -148 18
Hull KR 20 -39 16
Bradford 21 -142 16
Harlequins RL 21 -338 9
Wakefield* 21 -367 8

Salford challenging for playoffs, Leeds in 8th, us 3 points clear

josie andrews · Post by **josie andrews** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:29 am

WITT WAITS FOR CRUSADERS ANSWERS

Crusaders players are waiting for answers as uncertainty continues to surround their immediate Super League futures.

The Welsh club's shock withdrawal from the competition from next season has raised fears players may not be paid for their remaining five fixtures this term.

Owners Geoff Moss and Ian Roberts have been on holiday since it was revealed on Tuesday that the Wrexham-based outfit were pulling out due to financial concerns.

Stand-off Michael Witt told Press Association Sport: "The owners are away so we haven't had the answers we would like to have had.

"There are lots of things and lots of situations going on at the moment.

"We are all going to sit down and talk through what is going on because we are not 100% sure what is happening. We will have to sit and wait for some answers."

Some players are also owed money under a pension scheme and the Rugby League Players Association and the Rugby Football League are offering them advice.

Players' contracts are now likely to become null and void as the club considers whether a future in the Championship is viable.

Witt had recently signed a new three-year deal and admits news of the club's demise, which had been kept from the players, was difficult to accept.

The 27-year-old added: "We have got 27-28 players here trying to sort out their futures and what is going to happen now.

"It is very frustrating and very hard to take.

"But the decision has been made and there is nothing we can do about it now. We have just got to try and move on."

Crusaders have been dogged by controversy throughout their three years in Super League but had confidently started signing players for next season, including former Great Britain centre Keith Senior.

Another new recruit, Shannan McPherson of South Sydney, followed the example of a number of players by expressing his frustration on Twitter.

McPherson wrote: "Hope this is all a bad dream and il wake up soon. I should of seen this coming.. they been dodgy from inception.thought they had turned the corner (sic)."

Crusaders are still expected to fulfil their remaining games, starting with Sunday's trip to Wakefield.

RFL chief executive Nigel Wood told Sky Sports: "They are all professionals.

"We have no intelligence or suggestions that there is any threat to the fixture list."

The likes of Witt, Senior and Jarrod Sammut are likely to be in demand and the situation is being monitored closely by rival clubs.

Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown said: "They have got some good players and there will be plenty of people looking at them.

"They have some very important players that would make any side improve."

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ml&BID=480

Kittwazzer · Post by **Kittwazzer** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:11 am

josie andrews wrote:
RFL chief executive Nigel Wood told Sky Sports: "They are all professionals.

He said

"We have no intelligence or suggestions that there is any threat to the fixture list."

He meant

"If they don't turn up Sunday, its nowt du wi me. Now if you'll excuse mi, me chips is gettin cold. ELSIE, Don't forget mi 15 pasties wi mi afternoon mug o tea!”!

OJ · Post by OJ » Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:08 pm

Kittwazzer wrote:
josie andrews wrote:
RFL chief executive Nigel Wood told Sky Sports: "They are all professionals.

He said

"We have no intelligence or suggestions that there is any threat to the fixture list."

He meant

"If they don't turn up Sunday, its nowt du wi me. Now if you'll excuse mi, me chips is gettin cold. ELSIE, Don't forget mi 15 pasties wi mi afternoon mug o tea!”!

That is far more accurate than the words that he really came out with! :eusa2:

josie andrews · Post by **josie andrews** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:45 pm

Quota relief for Crusaders
Welsh outfit's 'foreign' players given aid in search for new clubs

Crusaders' foreign players have been told they will be given exemption from overseas quotas to help them find new clubs, the Rugby Football League have announced.

The RFL also confirmed that playing contracts at Crusaders beyond this season have now been terminated following the Welsh club's decision to withdraw from Super League.

Clubs are restricted to a maximum of five overseas players and five "non federation trained" players.

As an expansion club, Crusaders had dispensation to sign more such players and currently have a total of 13 on their books.

"In being able to act quickly with this special dispensation ruling, we are giving those Crusaders players that have been affected by the club's decision to withdraw their Super League Licence application every opportunity to find a new club from the start of the 2012 season."

Following the RFL's announcement, these players will now not count on quotas if other clubs wish to sign them.

Dispensation

This dispensation will apply for the length of contract they sign with any new club.

"Protecting player welfare is of paramount importance to us," stated RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer.

"In being able to act quickly with this special dispensation ruling, we are giving those Crusaders players that have been affected by the club's decision to withdraw their Super League Licence application every opportunity to find a new club from the start of the 2012 season.

"We have been able to do this by working alongside the RLPA and also Crusaders CEO, Rod Findlay, and we would like to thank them for their help in this matter."

On Thursday Australian scrum-half Jarrod Sammut became the first Crusaders player to depart since the club's decision to withdraw on Tuesday, agreeing a one-year deal with the Bradford Bulls.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,12196_7065456,00.html

Kittwazzer · Post by **Kittwazzer** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:50 pm

The whole thing stinks.

The RFL 'Rule Book' should be renamed 'Billy's Weekly Liar'. It just doesn't work. It didn't work against us in 2006, we hadn't broken the rules of the Salary Cap. But using their discretion, they decided we'd breached the spirit of the rules.

Translated. “Well Wigan, we've looked at our rule book and while we can't find you've done owt wrong, we're gonna screw you anyway”

I'm beginning to warm to Sepp Blatter. At least he is open about his corruption!