NORTH WALES CRUSADERS coach Anthony Murray is eyeing big improvements from his side at Keighley Cougars this weekend.

The Cru remain winless in League One this term and fell to a 22-12 home reverse to Hunslet last time out.

Murray was left frustrated by his side’s ill-discipline in the contest, ruing his side’s inability to convert dominant spells of pressure into points.

“We’re a lot better than what we’re sometimes serving up”, he said.

“We do some good bits, but then we let them off the hook. Hunslet have got some really good players and their game management told.

“It’s simplicity that sometimes wins you games and Hunslet had that. They picked up tries when they needed to and were worthy winners in the end.

“They didn’t really score any decent shape on us, but we switched off defensively a couple of times and they punished us.

“We put Hunslet under a lot of pressure on their try-line, but we didn’t come up with anything.

“We’ve been naive at times and been punished but now we need to pick ourselves back up and find that winning formula.

“Just like winning, losing can become a habit and it needs to be broken quickly if we want to stop this run we’re on.

“We’ve got to try and pick up some points soon and reach our aspirations of what we’re aiming for in the league.

“That starts by being much better at Keighley on Sunday.

The West Yorkshire club have endured a tough time of late and began the season with a 12-point deduction for failing to pay players and staff wages.

The Cougars collected a point from last weekend’s trip to London Skolars, where a late Aaron Levy try secured an 18-all draw for the visitors.

Murray has likened the Cru’s own history of financial problems to Keighley’s and believes the imposed penalties will only make their players more determines to succeed this season.

He added: “Not unlike ourselves a few years ago they’ve found themselves in trouble and it’s good that they’ve found a way to keep the club alive.

“There’s a fantastic tradition and history up there and the club plays a big role in the community.

“They’ll be desperate to claw back the points that have been taken off them and I’m sure the coaches and players will use it as a motivation.

“There will be a togetherness there and they’ll be fighting for every point this year.

“We have to be ready for a battle up there to come away with a positive result.”

Veteran Cru full-back Tommy Johnson remains sidelined after knee surgery, with Lewis Fairhurst also set to miss out.

Simon Atherton and Earl Hurst will both have minor injuries assessed, but both should feature

Pacesetters Hunslet host Coventry, Whitehaven go to West Wales Raiders, Oldham entertain London Skolars, while Newcastle Thunder visit Workington.