Harris ‘in talks’ over Crusaders switch
Back to South Wales?
By Chris O'Brien
September 16 2009
Welsh RL legend Iestyn Harris has dropped a massive hint that he is set to join Brian Noble in a new-look backroom team at the Crusaders. Fierce speculation has suggested that Harris would join at Rodney Parade next season as the Saders look for a fresh start in Wales’ third city.
Cru are
in the market for a new boss after parting company with John Dixon.
Harris
claims that Noble's potential move to South Wales is "the worst kept secret in
Super League" and has spoke out excitedly about potentially joining the current
Wigan boss in Newport.
"If
Brian did take that job it would a fantastic acquisition for the Crusaders
because he is the type of coach that gets the best out of his players and he
knows how to select a side to win games." said Harris, who also had a
spell in Union with Cardiff RFC, as pictured
above.
Welsh
international Harris played under noble for both Bradford and Great Britain
and would relish the opportunity to forge another partnership with the
48-year-old.
Noble
has led Wigan to the Super League play-offs and
is a 12/1 shot with the bookmakers to Grand Final glory. However, his DW
Stadium days are thought to be numbered with the press certain that the vastly
experienced coach is set for a new challenge outside of rugby league's
traditional stronghold.
33-year-old Harris is currently player/coach at Featherstone Rovers in the Championship. He has one year left on his contract at the 'Chris Moyles Stadium' currently, but seems keen to quit Fev for a move to the new-look Saders.
When quizzed on the speculation by the BBC, Harris said: "I'm speaking to people at the moment to maybe make that a possibility.
"It is something that would certainly interest me and if I get the opportunity then fantastic."
"The Welsh connection will be fantastic but you must take opportunities as and when they come along, especially when you are starting your coaching career.
"If that comes along at the Crusaders then it would be great to grab that to build and improve my coaching career. If I can be part of the team that takes them on over the next two years into the next franchise then that is something that is of real interest to me."
It has yet to be confirmed whether Harris would join the club in a purely coaching capacity or whether he'd also be available to play. The stand-off has recently been back in action for Fev after a nose injury and having Harris on the pitch would surely have a positive affect on the club's attendances.
The future is looking bright and, dare I say it, rather exciting.
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BN by all means but IMHO Iestyn will not add to the package. He will be too old (and slow) to play and will not exactly bring the RU fans rolling in as they see him, again IMHO, as having taken the RU shilling (well several hundred thousand shillings) and then running back up north at the first opportunity.
Spend the money that Iestyn would cost on a 'brand name' player.
Whilst he won’t be the most popular marquee signing in terms of getting Union fans down, he’s a very well known name who could help generate awareness for the club. It’s startling how many people, even sports fans, in South Wales haven’t even heard of the Crusaders.
I wore my jersey to the pub last week and got so many people questioning who the Crusaders were! With Harris involved, you can imagine more media coverage and more interest being generated.
I’ll have to try and speak to a Featherstone fan for the site this week and see how he has performed in National League One. However, I personally believe he’s only going to be here in a coaching capacity.
He’s been involved heavily in both the coaching and marketing side of things at Featherstone, and is also involved in the Welsh coaching role. Perhaps he’s going to replace Dixon as Wales boss too? That wouldn’t surprise me.
However, I don’t buy the argument that he’d be a good acquisition because of the contacts he’d bring to the club. Quite clearly, Noble would be the master of such affairs and would be much better at enticing players to the club than Harris.
Harris certainly won't be playing,yet gaining more experienced Welsh connections involved with the club can only improve its respectibility and the club'status both in Wales and in the Heartlands.I think one of the problems of attracting players to the club this season gone , regardless of finances is having people in charge unfamiliar to the general sporting public. I'd be interested to see how it goes.