Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Leeds 28 Celtic Crusaders 6 - Celtic Crusaders are confident they can build on the promising signs on display in their opening-day defeat by engage Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.

The Bridgend club, fast-tracked into the top flight after just three years in existence, emerged with considerable credit from their 28-6 reversal at Headingley and will head with confidence to fellow newcomers Salford for their next challenge next Saturday.

The Crusaders looked set for a heavy defeat after trailing 22-0 at half-time but, once they found their rhythm, they caused plenty of problems for the champions.

"I'm very pleased with the boys," said winger Luke Dyer, who enjoyed the distinction of scoring the club's first-ever Super League try.

"It was our first game - we didn't even have a friendly - and a third of our squad only got here five days ago so there's really good things to come.

"It really couldn't have been more difficult. We've not trained properly because of the snow and we've played against the Grand Final winners who have had three friendlies so we're really happy."

The Crusaders are the bookmakers' favourites to pick up the wooden spoon in their inaugural season but Dyer, who has played in Super League with Castleford and Hull KR, is confident they can make a nonsense of their odds of 350-1 to finish top.

"I've been in two newly-promoted teams before and I think this team is another level above them," he said.

"I think we've got a good team on our hands. John Dixon brought in a really good set of forwards this year and that's what we need to win games."

Dixon revealed that the Crusaders went into their opening match on the back of just one full training session since their pre-Christmas camp in Queensland.

Eight of the squad were stranded in Australia until last weekend by visa delays and the bad weather caused further disruption to preparations for their big day.

"Josh Hannay arrived on Monday, Tuesday was snowed out, Wednesday was a day off and on Thursday we trained in the snow," said Dixon. "We did well against the world champions, it was pretty encouraging.

"It showed that we hadn't played together, particularly in the first half, but I was very pleased with the efforts of the players.

"We were a whole lot better in the second half and, if we can be a whole lot better next week at Salford, then we're in with a chance I reckon."

The Crusaders received encouragement from Leeds skipper Kevin Sinfield, who had anticipated a difficult opening game and believes the Welsh club can be a force.

"Certainly at home," he said. "They'll have a lot of travelling this year but at home we might come up against a different outfit.

"I'm sure in time they will have a very good side down there."

Dixon hopes to have two of his new signings available for the trip to The Willows. Marshall Chalk was a late withdrawal from the Leeds game because of flu and Lincoln Withers is close to recovering from a knee injury.