Crusaders trio get visa clearance

Rhys Hanbury, Frank Winterstein and Hep Cahill have missed the opening six weeks of the season

Three Crusaders players stranded in Australia have been given the go-ahead to link up with the club.

Rhys Hanbury, Frank Winterstein and Hep Cahill have missed the opening six weeks of the season due to delays in getting their visas.

But they are expected to arrive in the country in the next few days having received the paperwork from the UK Border Agency

It is a timely boost for the club, who are currently bottom of Super League.

The trio will join up for the squad next week and they could be in contention to face Salford in the Super League at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday week.

Utility back Hanbury and second rower Winterstein played important roles in Crusaders’ eighth-placed finish in 2010 while Kiwi second rower Cahill agreed to join the club from Melbourne Storm during the winter.

“Having these three guys is massive for us,” said Crusaders coach Iestyn Harris.

“It has been a long and frustrating process trying to get them over here and our squad is a bit light at the moment.

“They are three important players for us who are going to play a massive role.

“We’ve been in regular contact with all three players and given them a training programme to follow whilst they’ve been in Australia.

“They will be short of a bit of match fitness when they hook up with the rest of the squad, but they won’t have a lot of catching up to do.

Their return will further bolster the squad, which was strengthened this week with the signing of Jordan Tansey and Andy Bracek

Former Leeds and Hull player Tansey is set make his debut for the Crusaders at Castleford on Sunday as they look to end a run of five consecutive defeats.