Preview: Crusaders v Leeds

Crusaders could field eight debutants in their side for the opening Super League match of the season against Leeds Rhinos this Friday in Wrexham (kick-off 8pm).
Great Britain internationals Gareth Raynor and Jamie Thackray, both signed from Hull FC in the close season, are both included, as are Nick Youngquest, Vince Mellars, Michael Witt, Rocky Trimarchi, Tommy Lee and Frank Winterstein.
The squad also includes four Welsh internationals, all of whom were in the side that beat Scotland to win the European Cup last year, Wales skipper Jordan James, Ben Flower, Lloyd White and Elliot Kear.
New Zealand World Cup winner Greg Eastwood is set to make his first appearance for Leeds Rhinos after being given the all clear by specialists to return to action.
Eastwood had an operation on his wrist following an injury picked up whilst on international duty with New Zealand in the Gillette Four Nations but he has been named in Brian McClennan's 19 man squad for the trip to Wrexham to take on Crusaders RL on Friday night, kick off 8pm.
Fellow new signing Brett Delaney is also included to make his debut at centre whilst Keith Senior and Ryan Bailey are set to make their first appearance since last year's Grand Final following minor operations in the close season.
Crusaders (from): Youngquest, Mellars, Raynor, Witt, O'Hara, Withers, Bryant, Chan, Trimarchi, Dyer, Lee, Winterstein, Peek, Thackray, James, Flower, White, Kear, Lupton.
Leeds (from): Webb, Donald, Delaney, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti, Sinfield, Diskin, Eastwood, Bailey, Kirke, Ablett, Burgess, Watkins.
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See Also
Bryan Fletcher Announces Retirement
McNamara wishes rivals luck
Wigan 38-14 Warrington
Warrington Wolves 12-40 St Helens
Martin makes Super League return
Tags
Club News
Warrington 46-12 Crusaders
Crusaders sign Welsh union legend
Crusaders confident ahead of Salford clash
Wigan 38-6 Crusaders
Crusaders 6-34 Leeds Rhinos
Interact
Stats
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| Round: 6 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
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| Round: 6 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
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| Round: 6 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
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| Round: 6 Sat 13 Mar 17:30 | ||
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| Round: 6 Sat 13 Mar 18:30 | ||
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| Round: 6 Sun 14 Mar 14:00 | ||
28 - 24 |
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| New Craven Park Sun 7th March | ||
46 - 12 |
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| Halliwell Jones Stadium Sun 7th March | ||
0 - 52 |
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| Belle Vue Sat 6th March | ||
42 - 22 |
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| The KC Stadium Fri 5th March | ||
12 - 24 |
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| The Willows Fri 5th March | ||
62 - 4 |
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| Headingley Carnegie Fri 5th March | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wigan | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 | Warrington | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | Hull FC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | Huddersfield | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Leeds | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | St Helens | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 7 | Bradford | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | Hull K R | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 9 | Wakefield | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 10 | Crusaders | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 11 | Castleford | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 12 | Catalans | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 13 | Harlequins | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 14 | Salford | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
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| Round: 2 Thu 11 Mar 19:30 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sat 13 Mar 18:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 3 Thu 18 Mar 19:30 | ||
20 - 20 |
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| LSV Thu 25th February | ||
32 - 26 |
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| The Shay Sun 28th February | ||
36 - 10 |
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| Chris Moyles Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
72 - 10 |
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| Stobart Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
26 - 22 |
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| Sun 28th February | ||
24 - 34 |
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| Mount Pleasant Thu 11th March | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halifax | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | Widnes | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Featherstone | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Toulouse | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Barrow | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Leigh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Dewsbury | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Sheffield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Batley | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 10 | Whitehaven | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Keighley * | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -9 |
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| Round: 2 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
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| Round: 12 Fri 12 Mar 20:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 2 Sun 14 Mar 15:00 | ||
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| Round: 3 Sat 20 Mar 15:00 | ||
40 - 12 |
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| South Leeds Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
20 - 38 |
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| Sedgley Park Sun 28th February | ||
56 - 24 |
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| Spotland Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
36 - 8 |
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| Huntington Stadium Sun 28th February | ||
22 - 20 |
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| Sun 28th February | ||
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| Round: 4 Wed 10 Mar 18:00 | ||
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| Round: 4 Wed 10 Mar | ||
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| Round: 4 Wed 17 Mar 19:30 | ||
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| Round: 4 Sun 21 Mar | ||
34 - 12 |
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| Huntington Stadium Wed 10th March | ||
62 - 18 |
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| Craven Park Wed 10th March | ||
0 - 68 |
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| South Leeds Stadium Thu 4th March | ||
22 - 44 |
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| Tetley's Stadium Wed 3rd March | ||
56 - 10 |
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| Chris Moyles Stadium Tue 23rd February | ||
22 - 24 |
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| Boundary Park Mon 22nd February | ||
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| Round 1 Fri, 12 Mar 19:35 Suncorp Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Fri, 12 Mar 19:35 Parramatta Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Sat, 13 Mar 17:30 ANZ Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Sat, 13 Mar 19:30 CUA Stadium, Penrith | ||
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| Round 1 Sat, 13 Mar 19:30 Toyota Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Sun, 14 Mar 13:00 Skilled Park | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Wests | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Roosters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Rabbitohs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Storm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Knights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Sea Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Eels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Raiders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Warriors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Titans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| Round 1 Mar 12 5:20pm Suncorp Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Mar 12 5:20pm Parramatta Stadium | ||
vs |
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| Round 1 Mar 13 3:15pm ANZ Stadium | ||
vs |
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| Round 1 Mar 13 5:15pm CUA Stadium, Penrith | ||
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| Round 1 Mar 13 5:15pm Toyota Stadium | ||
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| Round 1 Mar 14 10:45am Skilled Park | ||





