What we are doing is setting up six geographical home grown squads. The RFL stipulate that you set up one home-grown development squad; we are setting up six because we can.

David Thompson
Quotes of the week

Celtic Crusaders chief executive David Thompson is relishing the challenge of turning his team into worthy contenders for the Super League.

Thompson knows that the Crusaders have a tough battle to reach the standards required, but and wouldn't mind a couple of the Welsh rugby union grand slam winners knocking on his door.

"It would be great if Gavin Henson came knocking on my door," Thompson told Boots 'N' All.

"And if he said he would play for free that would be even better!

"The three year period allows the clubs to do things properly and do things in stages.

"We are talking to various players -- some Welsh rugby union players, some rugby league players from the north.

"We will do what is right for the club in view of making ourselves as strong as possible to stay in Super League in three years time."

Critics of the Crusaders say that they have brought over too many Australians to play and are concerned that things will not change now they have hit the big time. However Thompson disagrees with that and says that they are already well on the home-grown development road.

"It has already started to change," explained Thompson.

"What we are doing is setting up six geographical home grown squads. The RFL stipulate that you set up one home-grown development squad; we are setting up six because we can.

"We believe the Crusaders will be successful because of the player pool we will be able to tap into. It won't happen overnight though.

"We have every confidence that we can rise to the new challenges that are going to come our way in the Super League."