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.
Don't forget you can predict this match in our new tipping league at http://www.sportguru.co.uk/lasttackle
Don't have an account yet? Click here to register. Only takes a few seconds.
See Also
Celtic Crusaders 18-30 Catalans Dragons
Matterson agrees Cas extension
Bramley boss links up with Warrington
Peacock out for season
Bulls ready for new campaign
Tags
Club News
Super League pair in Italy squad
Welsh Assembly welcome Magic Weekend
Noble blasts officials as Crusaders pipped
Magic Weekend to kick off 2011 season
Crusaders 16-12 Harlequins
Interact
Stats
vs |
||
| Round: 27 Fri 3 Sep 20:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 27 Fri 3 Sep 20:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 27 Sat 4 Sep 16:30 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 27 Sat 4 Sep 18:45 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 27 Sat 4 Sep 18:45 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: 27 Sat 4 Sep 18:30 | ||
18 - 38 |
||
| New Craven Park Sun 22nd August | ||
52 - 4 |
||
| The Galpharm Stadium Sun 22nd August | ||
38 - 28 |
||
| Grattan Stadium Sun 22nd August | ||
40 - 28 |
||
| The Jungle Sun 22nd August | ||
10 - 36 |
||
| Racecourse Sat 21st August | ||
36 - 18 |
||
| Halliwell Jones Stadium Fri 20th August | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wigan | 26 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 42 |
| 2 | St Helens | 26 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 38 |
| 3 | Warrington | 26 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 38 |
| 4 | Leeds | 26 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 33 |
| 5 | Hull FC | 26 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 32 |
| 6 | Huddersfield | 26 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 31 |
| 7 | Hull K R | 26 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 29 |
| 8 | Castleford | 26 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 22 |
| 9 | Crusaders | 26 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 22 |
| 10 | Bradford | 26 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 19 |
| 11 | Wakefield | 26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 18 |
| 12 | Harlequins | 26 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 14 |
| 13 | Salford | 26 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 14 |
| 14 | Catalans | 26 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 12 |
vs |
||
| Round: Play Offs Thu 2 Sep 19:30 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: Play Offs Sun 5 Sep 15:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: Play Offs Thu 9 Sep 19:30 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: Final Sun 26 Sep | ||
26 - 12 |
||
| Recreation Ground Sun 22nd August | ||
24 - 32 |
||
| Cougar Park Sun 22nd August | ||
72 - 20 |
||
| Bigfellas Stadium Sun 22nd August | ||
24 - 38 |
||
| Sat 21st August | ||
29 - 28 |
||
| Don Valley Stadium Thu 19th August | ||
14 - 32 |
||
| Craven Park Wed 18th August | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Featherstone | 20 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 56 |
| 2 | Halifax | 20 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 50 |
| 3 | Leigh | 20 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 43 |
| 4 | Barrow | 20 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 39 |
| 5 | Widnes | 20 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 38 |
| 6 | Sheffield | 20 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 35 |
| 7 | Batley | 20 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 29 |
| 8 | Toulouse | 20 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 27 |
| 9 | Dewsbury | 20 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 26 |
| 10 | Whitehaven | 20 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| 11 | Keighley * | 20 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 10 |
vs |
||
| Round: Play Offs Sun 5 Sep 15:30 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: Play Offs Sun 5 Sep 15:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: Play Offs Sun 12 Sep 15:00 | ||
vs |
||
| Round: Final Sun 26 Sep | ||
18 - 48 |
||
| New River Stadium Fri 27th August | ||
32 - 24 |
||
| South Leeds Stadium Sun 22nd August | ||
16 - 26 |
||
| Spotland Stadium Sun 22nd August | ||
94 - 0 |
||
| Sedgley Park Sun 22nd August | ||
46 - 12 |
||
| Keepoat Stadium Sun 22nd August | ||
16 - 18 |
||
| Sun 15th August | ||
25 - 24 |
||
| Bloomfield Road Sun 18th July | ||
18 - 48 |
||
| Cougar Park Sun 20th June | ||
4 - 25 |
||
| Leigh Sports Village Thu 17th June | ||
6 - 42 |
||
| South Leeds Stadium Sun 6th June | ||
26 - 16 |
||
| Mount Pleasant Sun 6th June | ||
32 - 6 |
||
| Cougar Park Sun 6th June | ||
| Pos | Name | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragons | 23 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 205 |
| 2 | Wests | 23 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 37 |
| 3 | Panthers | 23 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 118 |
| 4 | Titans | 23 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 19 |
| 5 | Roosters | 23 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 39 |
| 6 | Warriors | 23 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 39 |
| 7 | Sea Eagles | 23 | 12 | 0 | 11 | 41 |
| 8 | Raiders | 23 | 12 | 0 | 11 | 4 |
| 9 | Rabbitohs | 23 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 31 |
| 10 | Broncos | 23 | 11 | 0 | 12 | -25 |
| 11 | Knights | 23 | 10 | 0 | 13 | -40 |
| 12 | Eels | 23 | 10 | 0 | 13 | -64 |
| 13 | Bulldogs | 23 | 8 | 0 | 15 | -51 |
| 14 | Sharks | 23 | 7 | 0 | 16 | -217 |
| 15 | Cowboys | 23 | 5 | 0 | 18 | -232 |
| 16 | Storm | 23 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 96 |







