Player recruitment is the overriding requirement of the new brains trust of Brian Noble, Iestyn Harris and Jon Sharp at Celtic Crusaders, whose relocation from Bridgend to Newport in 2010 is also viewed as a fresh chapter for the fledgeling engage Super League club.

“I see it as a blank piece of paper,” said Noble, who left Wigan Warriors last week and signed a two-year deal as head coach of the Crusaders. “We need to be patient, but we need to hit the ground running. We’re behind the eight-ball in relation to recruitment. That’s our top priority for the next few weeks, but the final pieces of our team may not come together until January.”

With only ten contracted players on the Crusaders’ books, after the recent deportation of six Australians over visa irregularities, Noble and his two assistants face an uphill battle at a time of year when most player dealing for next season has been completed. The Crusaders, who finished bottom of the table with three wins, struggled through the last few weeks of the season with home-grown novices.

“We’ve certainly got enough contacts and, should the plates that are spinning drop our way, we’ll be competitive, and that’s all you can ask. We’re at the back of the queue, but we’ll cobble something competitive together,” said Noble, who takes over from John Dixon and led Bradford Bulls to five consecutive Grand Finals.

“It’s an awesome challenge, not only to improve the prospects of the Crusaders but to give opportunities to young Welshmen. This challenge is as much about the game as it is for the Crusaders. I’m very confident that two, maybe three years down the track, we’ll have a very stable Super League entity in South Wales, which is what the game needs.”

Harris, 33, who broke off from preparing his Wales rugby league team to face England in Bridgend on Saturday to be at the announcement at Celtic Manor, confirmed his retirement as a player after a 16-year career in both codes. Featherstone Rovers agreed to an early release from his contract. Harris, who spent six years in rugby union with Cardiff Blues and Wales, said: “To be involved in a Welsh team in Super League is pretty special. In the long term, I aim to be a Super League head coach.”

Sharp, who stepped down last month at Hull as director of rugby and in 2006 guided Huddersfield Giants to a first Challenge Cup final appearance for 44 years, worked as Noble’s assistant with Great Britain from 2004-06.

Support for Paul Whatuira

Huddersfield have said they will give their full support to Paul Whatuira, the centre, who was taken to a secure unit for mental assessment after being arrested in connection with two assaults yesterday. The former New Zealand player was involved in an incident with two men on the outskirts of Huddersfield that left one man with severe facial injuries.