LAST year could hardly have gone much better on the field for North Wales Crusaders, with the Welsh side shocking the rest of League One to finish top with 14 wins from 18 games.
It was a crazy turnaround from the Crusaders after they had finished seventh the year before and missed out on the third tier play-offs altogether.
However, 2026 promises to be different as head coach Carl Forster has left for Super League side Bradford Bulls after three years at the helm, with former Hunslet boss Dean Muir taking over.
Muir does, though, have a burgeoning reputation having led the Parksiders to the Championship at the first time of asking against the odds as they first came through the League One play-offs before winning a promotion/relegation decider away at Swinton Lions in 2024.
There have been a number of changes in the playing roster heading into 2026 as well, with 11 new signings including former Warrington Wolves Challenge Cup winner Dec Patton, moving from Widnes, whilst nine have left the club including halfback Jamie Dallimore amid claims of delayed wages.
One to watch
Bringing in someone of the quality of Dec Patton cannot be underestimated for a club like North Wales.
Patton made his name as a Challenge Cup champion with Warrington Wolves with over 100 top-flight appearances under his belt, whilst also having spells with Bradford Bulls, Swinton Lions and Featherstone Rovers.
The 30-year-old swapped Yorkshire for Runcorn in 2025, plying his trade with Widnes Vikings before signing a deal with Crusaders for the 2026 season.
Squad: 1 Lloyd Roby, 2 Ollie Brookes, 3 Jayden Hatton, 4 Jake Spedding, 5 Luke Forber, 6 Dec Patton, 7 Jordy Gibson, 8 Ant Walker, 9 Josh Eaves, 10 Chris Barratt, 12 Cole Oakley, 13 Pat Moran, 14 Joe Baldwin, 17 Ashton Robinson, 18 Junior Westwood, 19 Shaun Costello, 21 Owain Abel, 22 Jake Nottingham, 23 Greg Eden, 24 Kian Fishwick, 25 Brad England, – Brad Foster, – Mark Ioane
Ins: Jayden Hatton (Swinton), Luke Forber (Rochdale), Dec Patton (Widnes), Pat Moran (Oldham), Ashton Robinson (Milton-Ulladulla), Jake Nottingham, Junior Westwood (both Warrington), Greg Eden (Hunslet), Tom Bridge (Wigan), Brad Foster (unattached), Mark Ioane (Keighley)
Outs: Jamie Dallimore (Rochdale), Ben Evans (retired), Matty Unsworth (Rochdale), Kieran Taylor (Widnes), Jack Holmes (Rochdale), Sam Wilde (Widnes), Toby Hughes (Widnes), Paddy Jones (Rochdale), Jack Houghton (Widnes), Liam Cooper (Salford)